Carsley: No more ´copy and paste´ England squads

Interim England boss Lee Carsley says he will not “copy and paste” his squads, with players to be rewarded for strong club form with Three Lions call-ups.

Carsley oversaw 2-0 Nations League victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland last month, having taken the reins on a temporary basis after Gareth Southgate’s resignation.

The former under-21 boss announced his latest 25-man squad for upcoming matches against Greece and Finland on Thursday, making four changes from last month’s party.

Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke won his first call-up in seven years, with Eberechi Eze, Harry Maguire, Tino Livramento and Jarrod Bowen all left out.

Predecessor Southgate was often criticised for sticking with a trusted core of players during his eight-year spell with the Three Lions, but Carsley says nobody is guaranteed a place under him.

“In the back of my mind, I wanted to make sure it feels fresh,” Carsley said.

“When you get that email or WhatsApp to say that you’ve been called up, it’s an achievement because it shouldn’t be something that is taken for granted.

“I thought it was important that it was not just a copy and paste. I want them to feel like they have earned their place in the squad.”

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— England (@England) October 3, 2024

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford – both of whom were left out of Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad – were among the players to be overlooked.

Carsley said he had been left with several tough decisions to make but had prioritised those in form in order to build rhythm before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers start next year.

“The players I’ve left out, I could make a case for them being in, but ultimately I have to make those decisions,” Carsley said.

“The reality is you want a player to be coming in in top form and fighting for a position in the team.

“Getting out of this Nations League is important for us in terms of setting up World Cup qualification. Whether I’m here or not, it’s important we are in a favourable pattern and in a position to win the World Cup.”