SOCCER
Foden, Grealish and Palmer are among the athletes cut for the duel against Greece and Ireland
Published on November 12, 2024 at 2:46 pm
Lee Carsley, interim coach of the England national team Credit: England National Team/Disclosure
Lee Carsley took over the interim England squad confidently in peaceful days. Gareth Soughate’s replacement, however, did not imagine that injuries would hinder his farewell games. About to pass the baton to Thomas Tuchel, who will take over at the beginning of 2025, the commander had to cut an impressive eight important pieces for the duels with Greece and Ireland in the final round of the Nations League B group stage.
To guarantee themselves in the quarter-finals, the English need just one point and visit leaders Greece on Thursday without Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Grealish, Rice, all starters in the 3-1 victory over Finland in the last round, in addition of Saka, Ramsdale, Colwill and Foden, all cut by injury.
The 26-man squad was reduced to just 23, as Carsley called up just five replacements: Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento and James Trafford. After facing the Greeks, in a duel that counts for the top of the bracket, England hosts Ireland on Sunday.
An essential full-back at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold was substituted in the first half against Aston Villa, at the weekend, with a thigh problem. And Liverpool have already started their race against time to have them in the Champions League against Real Madrid, in 17 days. The assessment is that it will be two weeks of treatment and rehabilitation.
Arnold scored one of the goals against Finland, away from home. The other two also came from players cut: Grealish had opened the scoring and Declan Rice scored the third.
