After a week debating whether England still matters, the pride was restored to the shirt . This time Lee Carsley ’s gambles paid off in the Olympic Stadium after they had backfired so badly at Wembley last month. It was a night when Carsley put all his faith in England’s next generation and they gave incoming Thomas Tuchel a glimpse of the future.
Ollie Watkins scored to write his own headlines and change the narrative from the story being all about Harry Kane being dropped. Jude Bellingham ran the show in midfield with a sensational man of the match display, Nuno Madueke was outstanding while Curis Jones impressed on his debut. They even overwrote the wrongs of the 2-1 defeat to Greece in the reverse fixture because, in a head-to-head, England now top Group B2.
It is all there for England because if they beat Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday they will be back where they belong among the big boys. Of course that should have been the very least England expected but, after after nine withdrawals from this squad, this lot turned up and did themselves proud. The Greek fans shone green laser pens at the England players but nothing could stop them from getting the job done.
It was a loud and raucous atmosphere in the 70,000 capacity stadium but it actually went horribly quiet as England took charge apart from the small pocket of 3,500 travelling fans up in the Gods. What a night they had. It was certainly one to remember and one which Carsley deserves to cherish as his .
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