Sky Sports’ Pete Smith and Sam Blitz look at the main talking points, the main dilemmas and the things we learned from England’s October international break.
England were beaten 2-1 by Greece on Thursday night for their first defeat at Wembley in four years, prompting questions about Lee Carsley’s position following the trial squad.
England then won 3-1 in Finland thanks to goals from Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice to stay in touch with the top of Nations League Group B2.
With questions about the performances of Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford, plus the usual Cole Palmer and Phil Foden debates, here’s what we learned from England’s displays this month…
Kane’s Riddle
How can England get the best from Harry Kane?
After going without a man against Greece, Lee Carsley was once again England’s record goalscorer and captain Harry Kane in charge in Finland.
However, while Kane provided a focal point for his side’s attacks, and Jude Bellingham in particular played him well in the first half, England did not play to their frontman’s strengths. He was sent off on 68 minutes without a shot. In fact, Kane has been sent off in seven straight Lions games.
Kane scored twice for England last time out and could score more against the same opposition at Wembley.
On his 100th game, Carsley spoke about how Kane still has a future on this stage, but how he needs players running beyond him to stretch the game and maximize his attributes. He did it to Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka last month.
It felt like a formula had been found to solve the problems of the summer when Kane came under fire at the Euros. But on Sunday, Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer played in wide positions.
For example, it does not benefit Gordon’s direct handling. Grealish came up with his own performance but the overall form meant it was a fruitless night for Kane.
Why aren’t we seeing Premier League Foden and Palmer for England?
Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are completely different players for England
Going into this international break, it was thought to be the month that Cole Palmer would end his starting role in this England team.
He strangely won the England Player of the Year award last week despite not having started a competitive game for his country. Perhaps it was an indication of his popularity with the supporters and their desire for him to be given the chance to take his excellent form for Chelsea on the international stage.
But starting as a No 10 against Greece and then on the right against Finland, Palmer fell short. One free-kick whistled over the Wembley post, but he managed just one shot and one chance in Helsinki before being substituted with 22 minutes left.
When you consider Phil Foden’s dismal recent England record of no goals and no assists in 16 games, fans are right to ask why these two of the Premier League’s best players are unable to establish a clear role for the Three Lions. Should the system be designed to accommodate them? It was not a great success against Greece.
Or should the manager make the big call to leave out big-name players when there is more than one contender vying for the No.10 role, so that these forwards only play in their preferred position? It’s a dilemma that applies to Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard and beyond, but Palmer and Foden are in danger of becoming the latest stars in that situation.
… and has Grealish bypassed both?
Jack Grealish scores for England
“I didn’t really agree with that,” Jack Grealish said when asked about Gareth Southgate being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad in the summer. Now, Grealis is backing it up with performances on the field.
The Manchester City midfielder’s two goals in three games have put the 29-year-old back on the international stage. With Palmer and Foden dominating the headlines, Grealish slipped quietly under the radar.
For Carsley or the next England manager, whoever that may be, is how Grealish has impressed in several areas of the pitch. The goal against Ireland in September came as an attacking midfielder, while he was used as a left winger last week when he scored against Finland last week.
Despite the clamor from other players, some believe Grealish should now be one of the first names in the England squad. Since Euro-2020, he was not kept with such a question.
Rice’s form adds to the attacking dilemma
Declan Rice scored for Finland
Grealish isn’t the only one in inspired form under Carsley. Declan Rice made it two goals in four games with his strike against Finland and his position poses another dilemma for England’s next manager.
Against Greece, Rice was used as one key pillar in defensive midfield, while Palmer, Foden and Jude Bellingham were allowed to attack through the pitch.
While that attempt failed, playing alongside Angel Gomez in a double spin made England look safer and Rice, as his goals show, more dangerous.
If playing Rice with Gomez or Coby Maino, who is out injured for this international break, is the answer, it makes picking a midfield team that much more difficult.
With Bellingham, Kane and Bukayo Saka guaranteed to start, that leaves only the left wing role for Palmer, Foden, Grealish and Anthony Gordon to all compete for places.
Alexander-Arnold shows his class, but he’s not a left-back
Trent Alexander-Arnold showed his quality on the ball against Finland but struggled defensively at times
When Trent Alexander-Arnold bent over that brilliant free-kick – and won £500 off Jack Grealish – it was seen as confirmation of him being on the pitch, even if it was out of the left-back position. There were other examples of his quality on the show.
“We’re really messing around with left or right back and what’s his best position, but as long as he’s in productive positions, it’s great to have him,” Carsley said afterward.
But if England are looking for long-term lessons for future success, that performance should not overshadow other moments in the game when Alexander-Arnold struggled defensively to switch sides.
Time lost early in England’s possession deep in the box and then he found himself with a diagonal ball into the box for Finland’s chance. “I still can’t believe how bad he is defensively. Of course, he will prove himself against better teams,” he said. Sky Sports’ Roy Keane joined ITV.
With Luke Shaw still out with injury and Ben Chilwell out of favor at Chelsea, England are short of left-back options, as they were at the Euros.
Alexander-Arnold does not seem to be a solution. he should be reinstated at right-back, ahead of Kyle Walker, where he impressed for his country last month.
The Pickford debate resumes after Henderson’s opportunity
Jordan Pickford’s role as England’s No.1 is again under threat.
Jordan Pickford has arguably been England’s most important player over the past six years, particularly in major tournaments.
The penalty shootout heroics and Golden Gloves trophies have been won, but has Southgate’s departure created a situation where England’s No.1 gloves are up for grabs again?
Pickford produced perhaps his worst performance for England against Greece, almost gifting the visitors a first half in the first half by coming off his line and kicking the ball away. He was just as sloppy as he built the Greek winner with his own hands.
Dean Henderson was then handed a start against Finland despite a planned move from Carsley even before the Greece game. Crystal Palace’s shot was barely tested but didn’t look out of place between the posts.
Pickford has previously shut down England’s competition in the case of Aaron Ramsdale when he was Arsenal’s No.1. But after a difficult start to the season for Everton, the spotlight, and not a pretty one, is back on the England No.1.
