UEFA Nations League: England Post Southgate Begins

Republic of Ireland vs England

After eight years under head coach Gareth Southgate, a new era dawns for the Three Lions, starting with Nations League: Ireland vs England on Saturday.    

Defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final turned out to be the last straw for Southgate who had so nearly brought success to the trophy starved nation, reaching successive European finals and a World Cup quarter final in 2022. But his reign was not entirely unproblematic as England start life without him in Group B of the Nations League having suffered relegation in the 2023 tournament.   

Former Everton midfielder Lee Carsley has been coaching with the England set-up since 2020 and he led the U21s to victory in the 2023 European Championships, beating Spain 1-0 to win a first major title since 1984. And now, just as Southgate did back in 2016, he has stepped up to take care of the senior team on an interim basis.   

At SBOTOP odds of 1.46 to win the Three Lions are hot favourites to give Carsley a winning start but he faces a man who will ensure his side is no pushover.

 

Talking Points

Hallgrimsson knows how to beat England

The Ireland vs England betting odds strongly back a Three Lions win but the Men in Green have a new boss too and he has succeeded against England in the past. Heimir Hallgrimsson was head coach of Iceland when they dumped Roy Hodgson’s team out of the 2016 European Championships and the Icemen were serious underdogs on that day, they were just superbly organised and played as a team.    

More recently he has managed Jamaica, leaving the Reggae Boys after the 2024 Copa America and now Hallgrimsson takes charge of his third international side. He hopes to lift Ireland out of a rut as they come into this high profile clash with just three wins in 13 games, and two of those against the minnows of Gibralter.      

Ireland have some lively young strikers in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson, recently recovered from injury, Burnley’s Michael Obafemi and Ipswich Town’s Sammie Szmodics, with experienced wingbacks Robbie Brady and Seamus Coleman likely to provide some ammunition. But chances will be few and far between for the Men in Green and they will need to be clinical.  

 

Carsley’s audition starts now

Interim boss Lee Carsley has a good chance of following in Southgate’s footsteps and taking full charge of the senior team, with no other serious candidates currently in the frame. Over the next ten weeks the Three Lions have six very winnable games to play, two each against Ireland, Greece and Finland, the 58^th, 54^th and 63^rd ranked nations. England are FIFA’s fourth ranked team and no matter which eleven Carsley picks on Saturday they will be more than capable of taking on their hosts.      

England fans were hoping to see Chelsea’s Cole Palmer in action but the attacking midfielder has been withdrawn with doubts as to the reasons why, and striker Ollie Watkins, who starred at Euro 2024 too has returned to his club, as has Manchester City star Phil Foden. But, with Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and Jarrod Bowen all available there is plenty of creative muscle, while skipper Harry Kane will surely lead the line; and there might be a debut for Palmer’s club-mate Noni Madueke who scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 6-2 destruction of Wolves last week.      

 

History

England have long been one of the powerhouses of European football and on the world stage but they have only won one more tournament than their Irish cousins, the 1966 World Cup.

The historic Ireland vs England results give some hope to the home fans too. This fixture has seen a draw fest over the past nine meetings with honours even on six occasions, and two wins for England with just one for the Republic. The last meeting, a friendly back in 2020 saw the Three Lions romp to a 3-0 win but before that game the teams played out a goalless draw and the four previous meetings all ended 1-1. 

The English have been stronger this year with three wins, two draws and a single defeat while Ireland have won one, drawn two and lost three, but the favourites have not won in Ireland in their last three visits.  

 

Betting Tip

With the hosts at 5.80 to win and 3.70 to draw, or even 2.41 for the Double Chance: Ireland or Draw, there is plenty for the home fans to go at, and I expect a tight affair on Saturday. A repeat of the popular 1-1 draw is priced at 7.24, while England to win 1-0 is at 5.12, and that would suit Carsley just fine.

   

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