England Prepares to Face Greece in UEFA Nations League Showdown
The UEFA Nations League is set to heat up on Thursday as England takes on Greece at Wembley Stadium in Group B2. Both teams are looking to maintain their perfect starts in the tournament, with England’s interim coach Lee Carsley aiming to build on his impressive debut wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Greece, led by Ivan Jovanović, currently tops the group on goal difference, and England will be determined to overturn that advantage. The fixture holds a special place in the hearts of many England fans, who will remember David Beckham’s dramatic last-gasp free-kick in 2002 that secured a 2-2 draw and sent the Three Lions to the World Cup.
The match kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST (2:45 p.m. ET) and will be broadcast live on ITV and ITVX in the UK. Fans can also follow along with live updates on ESPN.
Carsley has named a bold squad, retaining the likes of Lille midfielder Angel Gomes and Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who he worked with in the youth setup. Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke has also earned a call-up, his first since 2017, and will be looking to make an impact alongside Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins.
Kane, who scored twice in England’s last game, was an injury doubt after limping out of Bayern Munich’s draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, but tests have shown no structural damage and he is set to feature. However, three players – Ezri Konsa, Kobbie Mainoo, and Morgan Gibbs-White – have been withdrawn due to injury issues.
Greece’s main concern is the fitness of star striker Fotis Ioannidis, who was substituted in the dying moments of Panathinaikos’ derby draw against Olympiacos on Sunday.
England is looking to build on its back-to-back 2-0 wins over Ireland and Finland, while Greece is seeking to maintain its momentum after wins against the same opposition. The Greeks missed out on Euro 2024 in heartbreaking fashion, losing on penalties to Georgia in the playoff final, but have since shown promising signs under Jovanović.
Leave a Reply