England v Ireland LIVE: Nations League team news and line-ups as England make three changes at Wembley | OneFootball

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Curtis Jones speaks after debut England goal

England face the Republic of Ireland at Wembley in the final round of matches in Nations League Group B2, with Lee Carsley’s men sitting at the top of the table.

The Three Lions need to match Greece’s result in order to finish the campaign top of the group and win promotion, and they face an Ireland side that they beat convincingly in Dublin in September.

Plenty has happened since that match, with the FA appointing Thomas Tuchel to take over as England manager in January and England having beaten both Finland and Greece ahead of the end of the year.

With Carsley’s time at the helm coming to an end soon, plenty of players will want to put themselves into Tuchel’s thoughts ahead of a new era for the Three Lions.

We’ll have all the latest build-up, updates and team news below:

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Tino Livramento comes into makeshift England defence

Tino Livramento becomes the seventh player given a debut by Lee Carsley in his brief reign. The interim manager has certainly shown a willingness to experiment, particularly with the graduates of his Under-21 team.

Marc Guehi is the only specialist centre-back in the England team, with Kyle Walker set to join him in the middle of the defence. The Ireland side, in contrast, looks packed with centre-backs.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Richard Jolly

Lee Carsley has promotion in sight before handing England reins to Thomas Tuchel

Lee Carsley hopes to have helped Thomas Tuchel by being different with his selection and approach during his interim England reign – something that has led to praise and some service station sermons.

Sunday’s Nations League clash with the Republic of Ireland marks the end of his six-game stint as Gareth Southgate’s interim successor, with Tuchel starting his quest to win the 2026 World Cup in the new year.

Carsley returns to his post as England Under-21s boss having leant on many young talents he knows well from last year’s European Championship triumph in Georgia.

Lee Carsley has promotion in sight before handing England reins to Thomas Tuchel

Carsley’s interim stint will end after England’s game with the Republic of Ireland.

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 16:15

‘I feel like I’m at the peak of my game’ says Harry Kane ahead of England clash

Harry Kane is not worried about his long-term England future, insisting he is in the best form of his career.

The England captain was left out of Thursday’s 3-0 Nations League win over Greece, which came just months after his form during Euro 2024 came under heavy scrutiny.

With new manager Thomas Tuchel starting in January, Kane could be vulnerable, but he insists his performances for Bayern Munich make him “one of the top goal-scorers in the world” and worthy of his selection.

‘I feel like I’m at the peak of my game’ says Harry Kane ahead of England clash

The England captain was left out of Thursday’s 3-0 Nations League win over Greece.

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 16:10

Why Lewis Hall can see stars aligning for him to meet England’s biggest need

In their last 13 matches, England have only once started with a specialist left-back. Now a specialist left-back has emerged who debuted under Thomas Tuchel and who, even before the German takes charge, can benefit from the coaching of England’s most-capped full-back. If the autumn of 2023 was decidedly difficult for Lewis Hall, a year on, the stars could seem to be aligning for him.

Of the six uncapped players in Lee Carsley’s squad this month, Hall has the clearest path to a place in the team. Luke Shaw began the Euro 2024 final, but his outings have become rarities amid his injury problems. Kieran Trippier was the right-back pressed into service on the opposite flank in Germany but he has opted for international retirement.

In Carsley’s interim reign, Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold have played out of position on the left; the Chelsea and Liverpool players have been ruled out this week’s double header against Greece and Republic of Ireland.

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 16:05

Line-ups

England XI: Pickford; Livramento, Walker, Guehi, Hall; Jones, Gallagher; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane.

Subs: Henderson, Lewis, Gibbs-White, Gomes, Quansah, Harwood-Bellis, Watkins, Rogers, Bowen, Solanke, Trafford.

Ireland XI: Kelleher; O’Shea, McGuinness, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; Ebosele, Cullen, Molumby; Szmodics, Ferguson.

Subs: Travers, O’Leary, Doherty, Manning, O’Brien, Moran, Coventry, Azaz, McAteer, Johnston, Parrott, Cannon.

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 15:51

Harry Kane wants to get better with age but England have been shown a way to play without him

Once again, Harry Kane is the first name on the England football teamteamsheet. Lee Carsley was still in Athens when he confirmed the captain would start on Sunday. For eight years, Gareth Southgate rarely needed to offer that information three days early, to try and deflect charges Kane had fallen out of favour. If he was fit, he played.

Now? Kane was fit and began on the bench against Greece. Others were fit, the striker had implied, and did not turn up. Kane appeared to be the last man standing up for the values of the Southgate era, when players enjoyed turning up for international duty. Carsley refused to criticise the no-shows, was happy to finish with a glorified Under-21 side and beat Greece 3-0. Kane had a bit-part role.

He had been outspoken before the game, Carsley more cautious. The interim manager showed a bolder streak in his choices. Yet his post-match rhetoric invited a question: when is a dropping not a dropping?

Kane wants to get better with age but England have seen way to play without him

The Three Lions captain and record goalscorer is not accustomed to sitting on the bench – but his absence from the frontline against Greece helped England play with more pace

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 15:40

England’s Ollie Watkins gamble pays off to leave tricky Harry Kane question

In the tale of the captain and the caretaker, Lee Carsley’s great gamble paid off. England managers can be defined by a decision involving a talismanic striker. Graham Taylor ended Gary Lineker’s international career to bring on Alan Smith. Alf Ramsey preferred Geoff Hurst to Jimmy Greaves for a World Cup final. One got it wrong, the other very right.

Carsley’s reign will be briefer, the stakes lower. But if it risked being remembered for one selection, it was justified. Harry Kane, the skipper who criticised the teammates who did not seem to want to play for England, was himself denied a start.

Ollie Watkins began instead, scored with his first touch and set England on course to a redemptive win. Wretched at Wembley last month, when they lost to Greece, they exacted revenge in ultimately impressive fashion. The worst game of Carsley’s tenure came against Greece. So, now, did the best.

England’s Ollie Watkins gamble pays off to leave tricky Harry Kane question

Greece 0-3 England: Watkins repaid Lee Carsley’s faith with an early goal as the Three Lions put themselves on course for Nations League promotion

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 15:30

When are the Nations League play-offs?

The four third-placed teams from League A make up Pot 1 as seeded sides, while the four runners-up from League B, including either England or Greece from Group B2, enter in Pot 2.

Pot 2 teams are drawn first, then the seeded Pot 1 teams are drawn to complete the play-off ties, with the second legs played at the homes of Pot 1 sides.

Nations currently in the relegation play-off place in League A groups are Poland, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia, though much could change on the final gameweek.

The play-offs are scheduled to take place between 20 and 23 March 2025.

Chris Wilson17 November 2024 15:20