Gary Lineker Heaps Praise On Changes Made By England Interim Manager Lee Carsley

Former England striker Gary Lineker has expressed his delight at the changes implemented by interim manager Lee Carsley, suggesting that the Three Lions are finally playing to their strengths.

After falling just short during Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, England have made a positive start under their new caretaker boss.

Carsley’s first game in charge saw a convincing 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland, with several key changes to the starting lineup.

One of the most notable adjustments was the inclusion of Anthony Gordon as an out-and-out left winger. This allowed captain Harry Kane to drop deeper and play a more creative role, while also freeing up Jack Grealish to operate as a No. 10.

Additionally, Trent Alexander-Arnold was given more licence to roam forward from the right-back position.

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Lineker Lauds Carsley’s Changes

Gary Lineker believes that these changes align with what many fans had been calling for. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former England striker said, “It’s interesting as well, isn’t it, that perhaps some of the things fans were most disappointed about in the Euros, well, probably three things, maybe more.

“But everyone wanted Anthony Gordon to play on the left because we all saw a weakness and an unbalance on that side. And also that he can run behind players because Kane likes to come short and you’ve got to have a threat behind, so he did that.

“The other thing was he [Southgate] left Jack Grealish out of the squad, which a lot of people were bemused by, and he’s come in and performed really well. And obviously, he never really trusted Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Lineker continued, “In the first game, Carsley has come up with all these things, and a lot of us are going, ‘You see? We told you’.”

As England prepare to face Finland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, there is growing anticipation to see how they will fare under Carsley’s guidance.

With Kane set to reach a century of caps, the Three Lions will be hoping for a successful performance and a positive result.