GARY LINEKER lauded three decisions made by Lee Carsley in his first game in charge of England.
Interim boss Carsley, 50, began life after Gareth Southgate with a 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland on Saturday thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
It is the first of six matches Carsley has been guaranteed as he looks to make the case for him to be given the job permanently.
Former England striker Lineker, 63, hailed the inclusion of Anthony Gordon, Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And he also claimed those unhappy with Southgate’s style of play during England’s run to the final of the Euros in the summer will now be saying “we told you”.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, he 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.
“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. In the first game Carsley has come up with all these things and a lot of us are going ‘you see? We told you’.”
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Newcastle winger Gordon, 23, played just one minute at the Euros as Southgate opted for Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in the wide areas.
But he was always a threat against Ireland and made the run in behind which began the move for Rice‘s opening goal.
Grealish, 28, missed out on the Euros altogether following a disappointing season for Manchester City which saw him contribute just three goals and three assists in 36 appearances.
But he hit back at his critics and the boos ringing around the stadium – due to him representing Ireland at U21 level – with a goal and accomplished performance in the No10 role.
Alexander-Arnold, 25, spent the first two games of the Euros playing in midfield in an experiment widely criticised.
He was then dropped and only played 11 more minutes in the tournament, although he did score the winning penalty against Switzerland.
But the Liverpool man looked far more at home at right-back against Ireland, moving into midfield in possession.
With Kyle Walker absent from the squad, Alexander-Arnold fizzed a wonderful pass into Gordon which led to Rice’s goal.
Carsley’s second game in charge comes against Finland at Wembley on Tuesday.
By Tom Barclay, Football Reporter
Historically, it has been the newspapers that the England team have directed their frustration at when not playing well in a major tournament.
But at this summer’s Euros it was the pundits in the firing line rather than the traditional press as Gareth Southgate’s side laboured out of a dream group.
The first half an hour of the opening 1-0 win over Serbia aside, Southgate’s struggled badly in their opening three fixtures which included poor draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
It prompted fierce criticism from England legends Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker in particular.
Shearer hammered the team for their 1-1 with the Danes on BBC commentary, claiming there was “no excuse” for the lacklustre display.
Lineker was also deeply unimpressed, commenting on his Rest is Football podcast: “I mean, you can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s***”.
Captain Harry Kane held a press conference a few days later ahead of the Slovenia game in which he was asked about Lineker’s X-rated verdict.
The Bayern star said: “What ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise is it’s very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or are new to the environment. I always feel like they have a responsibility as an ex-England player that a lot of players looked up to.”
Social media was also predictably awash with flak for the team and it spilled out into the stadium after the 0-0 draw with Slovenia, when boss Southgate had three empty beer cups chucked at him as he went to applaud the fans at full-time.
Southgate claimed he was “oblivious” to the pundit stick he was getting – including from ex-team-mates – but tellingly did brand the atmosphere he was working in as “an unusual environment”.
England were a last-gasp Jude Bellingham overhead kick away from a humiliating exit in the last-16 to Slovakia, continuing their underwhelming form before turning it round in extra-time.
An irked Bellingham hit out at some of “negativity” surrounding the team in his post-match press conference.
While Southgate also opened up on the personal nature of the attacks on him, saying: “I can’t deny that some of the personal nature, you know… This is a job where you get ridiculed, and your professional capability is questioned beyond belief, and I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you either.”
Southgate would go on to take England to the final, where the team lost 2-1 to Spain thanks to a heartbreakingly late strike from Mikel Oyarzabal, before stepping down the following week.
Much of the discussion in the lead-up to the Ireland match surrounded Carsley’s decision not to sing the national anthem.
But he immediately silenced those doubters as his side produced a sensational opening 45 minutes.
After the game, he said: “In the back of your mind you always think… you know, it’s easy to be the England manager, isn’t it, when you’re sat in the house.
“There have been times where I’ve thought I’m not sure if I could do it.
“But it [the Dublin win] has done my confidence good, and the rest of the staff as well, that actually we’re OK, we’ll be all right.
“I think it’s natural to have doubts.”
DECLAN RICE silenced his Irish critics with a dominant display in England's Nations League opener.
Lee Carsley‘s players handed him a debut win as interim manager of the Three Lions.
Rice starred in the first half as he netted the opener and then set up England‘s second goal.
Jack Grealish doubled up for England after being set up by Rice 15 minutes later.
Anthony Gordon however faded in the match as he was not able to have as much success as Grealish.
SunSport’s Charlie Wyett has rated England’s players’ performance against Ireland…
JORDAN PICKFORD – 6
Pushed away a half decent shot from Sammie Szmodics at the start of the game but as England took control, he had a stress-free game.
After a difficult couple of weeks with Everton, he would have been grateful for this.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD – 7
Looked more at home at right-back compared to the disastrous midfield experiment at the Euros.
Stunning pass in a move that eventually led to the first goal. He has to remain as England’s right-back.
MARC GUEHI – 7
Enjoyed a decent Euros and switched over to the right of central defence as John Stones was named on the bench.
Looks increasingly like a top-drawer defender.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 7
Was left devastated after failing to make the Euro 2024 squad but he has enjoyed a decent start with Manchester United and looked solid here.
When he is not in the team, England do miss his aerial presence. 7
LEVI COLWILL – 7
Second appearance for England and was deployed at left-back.
Unlike the Euros, England have much better balance in defence with a natural left footer in this position. 7
DECLAN RICE – 9
Enjoyed an absolute stormer in what could have been a difficult afternoon.
Booed every time he touched the ball, the former Irish international quietened the boisterous home fans with a brilliant finish although refused to celebrate.
He then set up the second for Grealish.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Fits perfectly into Carsley’s style of play. Some of his passing was excellent, particularly in the final third of the pitch, and this included his part in the outstanding second goal.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Enjoying a terrific start to the season with Arsenal – he has been nominated as their player of the month – and played with plenty of confidence here.
Was involved in the second goal.
JACK GREALISH – 8
Left out of the Euros squad, but loved every minute of this.
A decent finish for 2-0 and unlike Rice, celebrated in front of the visiting fans by raising both arms in triumph.
ANTHONY GORDON – 6
Looked really lively early on but faded.
He should have put England ahead when clean through but was lucky that seconds later, Rice hammered his shot into the corner. 6
HARRY KANE – 6
Missed with a header and despite working hard, did not actually have that many chances despite England having so much possession.
Subs
Gibbs-White (for Grealish 77 mins) 6, Gomes (for Mainoo 77) 6, Eze (for Gordon 77 mins) 6, Bowen (for Kane 84 mins) 6, Stones (for Maguire 85) 6.
Subs not used: Henderson, Pope, Lewis, Gallagher, Livramento, Konsa, Madueke.
