Carsley urges England to get out of 'comfort zone'

Lee Carsley believes England have to get out of the “comfort zone” and try different things like his bold selection in the defeat to Greece, in order to cross the line and win something.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

The interim manager insisted it would be “naive” to keep with the same approach, as the national team attempts to end a 60year wait for a trophy.

Carsley played a surprising formation that featured all of England’s attacking stars on Thursday, only to lose 2-1 in a performance that is now being perceived as potentially costing him a chance at the role full time. He again insisted he isn’t thinking about but instead looking at the bigger picture of leaving the team in a better place for the 2026 World Cup and future tournaments.

While he has said he will not use Thursday’s formation in the match away to Finland today, he did argue they have to keep it open for the future. “We’re not that far away,” Carsley said. “We have been close twice. It was important that I put my own stamp on the team and the squad and tried something different because the understanding is that unless it changes, it won’t change.”