Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish both start as England begin life after Gareth Southgate with a Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland today.
Former Irish international Lee Carsley takes interim charge of the Three Lions for the first time at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in the high-profile Group B2 opener, having been promoted from Under-21 duty while the Football Association (FA) searches for a permanent successor to Southgate after eight years.
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Carsley selected four newcomers in his squad last week, with Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes all having worked under him with the U21s but never previously been called up for the seniors.
He left a number of experienced internationals out of his squad, including the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.
Kyle Walker was omitted due to a lack of minutes in the early weeks of the new season with Manchester City, while Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier retired from international duty just hours before Carsley selected his first squad last Thursday.
Jude Bellingham and Luke Shaw were left out due to injury, but Grealish and Maguire are both back in the England fold and start in Dublin despite missing out on this summer’s run to the final of Euro 2024 under Southgate.
Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins were all originally named in Carsley’s group but will play no part against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday or against Finland at Wembley on Tuesday after returning to their respective clubs for assessments on minor injuries. Foden has been suffering with a virus.
Carsley revealed last week that Harry Kane will remain England captain, and the Bayern Munich striker leads the Three Lions out at the Aviva Stadium once more.
Jordan Pickford is in goal as usual, as Trent Alexander-Arnold gets a chance at his natural position of right-back after the failed midfield experiment at the Euros.
Marc Guehi is the partner for Maguire, as versatile Chelsea defender Levi Colwill starts at left-back with no Shaw and Trippier now unavailable.
Declan Rice – who, like Grealish, represented the Republic of Ireland in his younger days before switching his international allegiance to England and can likely expect a somewhat hostile reception in Dublin on Saturday – partners Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield engine room, with Bukayo Saka joining Grealish in supporting lone striker Kane.
Anthony Gordon also gets a chance to impress in attack after making just two substitute cameos at the European Championship.
England XI: Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Guehi, Colwill, Mainoo, Rice, Gordon, Grealish, Saka, Kane
Subs: Henderson, Pope, Lewis, Stones, Gallagher, Livramento, Konsa, Gibbs-White, Angel, Bowen, Eze, Madueke
Date and time: 5pm BST on Saturday September 7, 2024
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
