November 13th 2024.
Lee Carsley will not have his strongest team available for England's important Nations League match against Greece in Athens. This comes after a string of withdrawals, including notable players like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Injuries have also ruled out John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, and Eberechi Eze. This is a significant blow for Carsley, who is leading the team as interim coach before Thomas Tuchel takes over in the New Year.
The absence of these key players is a cause for concern, especially as the Three Lions need to win this match to have a chance at promotion to the elite level of the tournament. They are seeking revenge after their shocking 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley and must win by a two-goal margin to return to the top of their group. To achieve this, they also need to defeat Ireland in their next match.
Despite the challenges, Carsley still has a talented group of players at his disposal and has the opportunity to end his tenure on a high note by playing an aggressive and expansive game. England have a good record in Greece, winning on all four of their previous visits. However, the modern-day Greek team is a strong force on their home turf and have lost only one of their 11 Nations League matches in front of their home fans. This will be a tough match for the Three Lions.
As always, there is a sense of pride and determination within the England camp to represent their country well. However, it must be acknowledged that the Nations League is not the top priority for Tuchel, who has his eyes set on success at the 2026 World Cup. In this match, England's captain Harry Kane will be a key player and is expected to score in Athens.
With so many players missing and Greece in good form after their recent victories, it will be a challenge for England to secure the necessary victory. A draw seems like a realistic outcome and is priced at 12/5 with Ladbrokes and Coral. A 1-1 final score is also a possibility, with odds of 11/2 with bet365, BoyleSports, Sky Bet, Betfred, and Bet Victor.
For those looking to bet on individual players, dependable Harry Kane is a good option to score the first goal at 22/5 with Unibet and BetMGM, or to score at any time at 33/20 with the same firms.
In other sports news, Dan and Harry Skelton's experienced horse Protektorat is considered a good each-way bet at 14/1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. And in a different kind of sporting event, 58-year-old Mike Tyson will be fighting 27-year-old YouTuber Jake Paul on Saturday. If you're planning to watch and take the fight seriously, consider placing a bet on Tyson to win at 11/5 with Sporting Index.
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