England will be looking to maintain their 100% start to their UEFA Nations League campaign when they host Greece at Wembley Stadium on Thursday evening.
Both sides head into the encounter having won their opening two games in League B, Group 2, although Greece currently sit top of the group with a marginally better goal difference.
Lee Carsley made the perfect start to his reign as interim England manager with a 2-0 win over rivals Ireland in Dublin before securing another 2-0 win against Finland just days later, and could now become the first England manager to win all of his first three matches in charge sinceFabio Capello did in 2008.
In fact, he could become the first England manager ever to win his first three matches in charge without conceding a goal should his side be able to keep a clean sheet, a feat which would no doubt enhance his chances of earning the role on a permanent basis.
Standing in his and England's way on Thursday is a Greece side who are also full of confidence. Following promotion from League C last campaign, Ivan Jovanović's side showed their League B credentials with a 3-0 win over Finland.
They then notched up a 2-0 win over Ireland in their second match to go top of the group and will have the chance on Thursday to make a significant statement and boost their chances of promotion to League A with what would be an unlikely win against the Three Lions.
England have never lost to Greece in their nine meetings (seven England wins and two draws), with the last of those meetings coming back in 2006 when England ran out 4-0 winners over To Piratiko (the Pirate Ship) in a friendly at Old Trafford.
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Team News
England
After Carsley named his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland on Thursday, it was announced on Monday that the trio of Kobbie Mainoo, Ezri Konsa, and Morgan Gibbs-White were forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury, with Tino Livramento and Curtis Jones being called up as replacements.
Carsley will be closely monitoring the fitness of his captain, Harry Kane, who continues to train on an individualised programme at St. George's Park, but the England manager may be forced to call upon either Dominic Solanke - who was called up for the first time in seven years - or Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins on Thursday night instead.
Jack Grealish missed training on Wednesday as a precaution with a minor knock, but on a more positive note for Carsley, the quartet of Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer have returned to the senior squad, having missed England's last round of fixtures in September, and are all in contention to start against Greece on Thursday night.
Greece
Jovanović suffered a big blow when naming his squad with the news that Fotis Ioannidis would be forced to miss out having picked up an injury during Panathinaikos' recent Greek Super League clash with Olympiacos.
The striker has scored three of Greece's five goals in their Nations League campaign thus far, but Jovanović will be without his star man against England.
Vangelis Pavlidis is set to lead the line in place of Ioannidis, and his recent goal record suggests he can be a threat also. The 25-year-old scored 29 goals in 34 Eredivisie appearances for AZ Alkmaar last season before securing a move to Benfica in the summer, where he has netted twice so far.
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Likely Lineups
England
Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Guehi, Stones, Lewis; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Palmer, Gordon; Watkins
Greece
Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Siopis, Kourbelis; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis
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Key Players
England - Cole Palmer
Despite playing just nine times for England, Palmer is quickly establishing himself as one of England's biggest attacking threats, highlighted by the fact that he won England's Player of the Year award earlier this week.
At club level, Palmer has taken his game to another level, scoring six goals and bagging five assists in seven Premier League appearances so far this season, adding to the 22 goals and 11 assists he recorded for Chelsea last season.
He didn't start in any of England's Euro 2024 matches and has only played more than 45 minutes in three of his nine international appearances thus far, but expect him to feature much more for the Three Lions in the near future, and Carsley will be hoping he can replicate his club form on the international stage.
Greece - Konstantinos Mavropanos
England have looked very threatening in the final third of the pitch under Carsley, and the Greek defence will need to be at their best if they are to get anything from Wembley Stadium on Thursday.
At the heart of that defence will be West Ham United central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, who comes up against the likes of Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Ollie Watkins on a weekly basis.
Mavropanos and his teammates will likely be kept very busy on Thursday, with England registering 38 shots in their last two matches, but having kept back-to-back clean sheets to open up their Nations League campaign, the Greeks will certainly fancy their chances of causing what would be a major upset.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match will be played at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is at 19:45 BST on Thursday 10th October, 2024.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the match on ITV, with live coverage starting at 19:00 BST.
