No Harry Kane? No problem.
Not something we’ve ever imagined being possible in the last decade, due to his record breaking exploits on the international stage. But something a caretaker boss from Birmingham still managed to make possible, nonetheless.
On a night when Lee Carsley took the mother of all gambles and hit the jackpot. If nothing else, you’ve got to admire the courage of Carsley.
In eight years in charge, Gareth Southgate didn’t drop Kane once. But here in Athens, Carsley took the unthinkable decision to axe the Three Lions legend in just his fifth game as interim manager.
And in the process went from being a potential muppet to a possible magician, with Kane’s replacement Ollie Watkins opening the scoring in a thumping 3-0 win over Greece in the Olympic Stadium.
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
What is it with Carsley and the Greeks? Last month at Wembley he sent out the footballing equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters – and got slam dunked. It was one of the most humiliating defeats in England’s history.
And here he was in Athens leaving out his captain, record goalscorer and talisman, for a game the Three Lions had to win to keep alive their chances of automatic promotion back to the top level of the Nations League.
A bloke who’d scored 17 goals in 16 games for club and country this season. There was also 241 England caps worth of experience missing, for a game in a cauldron of a stadium.
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
But still no place for Kane, who had taken to task eight of his colleagues for pulling out of the squad ahead of this game.
Just to rub Kane’s nose in it, he was benched in favour of Watkins, who had scored one goal in his last eight games and none in his last five before this crucial showdown.
Carsley had made some huge calls since taking charge on an interim basis, but this one felt bonkers. In a place famous for it’s ancient sites, Carsley had risked his reputation being left in ruins.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Throw in the fact incoming boss Thomas Tuchel couldn’t be bothered to turn up to watch – and it all felt like amateur hour from England and the FA. Bit within seven minutes Carsley became the smuggest man in the stadium. Maybe the entire country, even.
England took the lead with a wonderful goal, and it had to be Watkins. The impressive Noni Madueke did all the hard work on the right, before pulling a perfect ball back for Watkins and a simple finish.
Anthony Gordon saw two shots blocked, while Madueke continued to terrorise Kostas Tsimikas at will. England looked in complete control, but Jordan Pickford had to produce a great save to keep out a sharp strike from Tsimikas.
(Image: PA)
Jude Bellingham broke clear at the opposite end, but was caught in two minds and the chance went begging.
And Rico Lewis sent Watkins clean through on goal on the stroke of half time, but his control let him down and a golden chance to make it 2-0 had gone begging. Bellingham hit the post with a glancing header, while Pickford denied Fotis Ioannidis with another fine save as the game ebbed and flowed.
Kane replaced Watkins with 24 minutes remaining, but made little impression. Unlike Bellingham, who forced an own goal from Odysseas Vlachodimos before Curtis Jones added a third on his debut with a sublime finish.
So no Greek tragedy this time. No chance of Carsley coming Acropolis. In a city known for its ancient sites, Carsley’s men offered supporters a glimpse into the future.
And it could be one that doesn’t include Kane.