Alan Shearer says one England star should be ‘absolutely raging’ after Greece loss --[Reported by Umva mag]

Lee Carsley endured a tough night at Wembley on Thursday (Picture: Getty) Alan Shearer believes that Ollie Watkins should be seething with interim boss Lee Carsley after his experimental tactic saw England slump to a surprise defeat against Greece on Thursday. Watkins had been expected to start in the absence of the injured Harry Kane but England instead started with no out-and-out striker and five other attackers. Having only trialled the system for 20 minutes on the eve of the match, it was perhaps no surprise that England failed to look coherent in possession and were subsequently left wide open on the counter. Greece capitalised on that meek, incoherent display, with Vangelis Pavlidis striking in stoppage time – his second of the night – shortly after Jude Bellingham had levelled to seal a 2-1 triumph. Reflecting on the game, Shearer suggested that the Aston Villa striker should be knocking down Carsley’s door to demand an explanation on why he was not given a chance to shine at Wembley in Kane’s absence. ‘You’d be absolutely raging if you were Ollie Watkins,’ the former Three Lions striker said on the Rest is Football podcast. ‘Your main man, or your main centre forward, is injured and you’ve been crying out for an opportunity. And when you’ve come on you’ve actually done alright, in terms of Watkins, and he’s doing well at club level Ollie Watkins only came on as a late substitute against Greece (Picture: Getty) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next ‘Yet when Kane’s out, the manager comes to you and says: “I’m not going to play you tonight”, at home against Greece. “I’m going to try something different.” ‘He’s got every right to be [angry]. He should be knocking on his door tomorrow, saying: “I have to play the next game, if Kane’s not fit.”‘ Kane is expected to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s trip to Helsinki, but Carsley was adamant that, regardless, he would stick to his attacking principles. ‘My position and my understanding of coaching, I want to attack,’ he said. ‘I want to attack – you’ve seen the teams play (at Under-21s level). It’s something that’s really important to me and with that you do lose games. You do lose some games. ‘It’s not ideal, of course it’s not, but with that mentality, I’ve found that you definitely win more games than not. ‘It’s very disappointing tonight but nothing changes in terms of the way that I see the game. It’s not affected how I see it.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Oct 11, 2024 - 16:37
Alan Shearer says one England star should be ‘absolutely raging’ after Greece loss --[Reported by Umva mag]
Lee Carsley, interim manager of the England national football team, during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Greece
Lee Carsley endured a tough night at Wembley on Thursday (Picture: Getty)

Alan Shearer believes that Ollie Watkins should be seething with interim boss Lee Carsley after his experimental tactic saw England slump to a surprise defeat against Greece on Thursday.

Watkins had been expected to start in the absence of the injured Harry Kane but England instead started with no out-and-out striker and five other attackers.

Having only trialled the system for 20 minutes on the eve of the match, it was perhaps no surprise that England failed to look coherent in possession and were subsequently left wide open on the counter.

Greece capitalised on that meek, incoherent display, with Vangelis Pavlidis striking in stoppage time – his second of the night – shortly after Jude Bellingham had levelled to seal a 2-1 triumph.

Reflecting on the game, Shearer suggested that the Aston Villa striker should be knocking down Carsley’s door to demand an explanation on why he was not given a chance to shine at Wembley in Kane’s absence.

‘You’d be absolutely raging if you were Ollie Watkins,’ the former Three Lions striker said on the Rest is Football podcast.

‘Your main man, or your main centre forward, is injured and you’ve been crying out for an opportunity. And when you’ve come on you’ve actually done alright, in terms of Watkins, and he’s doing well at club level

Ollie Watkins (18 England) looks on during the UEFA Nations League League B, Group 2 match between England and Greece at Wembley Stadium
Ollie Watkins only came on as a late substitute against Greece (Picture: Getty)

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‘Yet when Kane’s out, the manager comes to you and says: “I’m not going to play you tonight”, at home against Greece. “I’m going to try something different.”

‘He’s got every right to be [angry]. He should be knocking on his door tomorrow, saying: “I have to play the next game, if Kane’s not fit.”‘

Kane is expected to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s trip to Helsinki, but Carsley was adamant that, regardless, he would stick to his attacking principles.

‘My position and my understanding of coaching, I want to attack,’ he said.

‘I want to attack – you’ve seen the teams play (at Under-21s level). It’s something that’s really important to me and with that you do lose games. You do lose some games.

‘It’s not ideal, of course it’s not, but with that mentality, I’ve found that you definitely win more games than not.

‘It’s very disappointing tonight but nothing changes in terms of the way that I see the game. It’s not affected how I see it.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.




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