Greece vs. England lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news and ...

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Sporting News

England are fighting for promotion back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League, with decisive games against Greece and Republic of Ireland this week.

Lee Carsley will complete his interim spell in charge of the Three Lions, before former Chelsea and PSG boss Thomas Tuchel comes in, in 2025.

England travel to Greece on November 14th before hosting the Republic of Ireland on November 17 — and they'll likely need to win both games to top Nations League Group B2.

Having lost 2-1 at home to Greece last month, England are on nine points, three off the top of the group, with only one automatic promotion spot up for grabs. If the Three Lions finish second, they'll go into a playoff for promotion.

The Sporting News previews the Greece game, looks at the team news and injuries for both sides, as Carsley looks to sign off in style despite a raft of pull-outs from the England squad.

MORE: UEFA Nations League fixtures, results, schedule and format for European international football competition

Greece vs. England lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news

Greece have Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas available. The left-back missed his country's win over England in the last international break through injury but starts alongside the likes of West Ham's Konstantinos Mavropanos in defence.

Dimitrios Kourbelis misses out as he serves a one-match suspension for picking up too many yellow cards, so Cardiff City star Manolis Siopis is partnered by Christos Zafeiris in the centre of midfield. Fotis Ioannidis of Panathinaikos is coming back from injury but starts this one on the bench.

Greece (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vlachodimos (GK) — Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas — Siopis, Zafeiris — Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis — Pavlidis

Greece subs: Vagiannidis, Retsos, Alexandropoulos, Ioannidis, Douvikas, Pelkas, Tzolakis, Mandas, Chatzidiakos, Mantalos, Giannoulis

Eight players withdrew from England's squad at the start of the international break, including key Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka and Manchester City attackers Phil Foden and Jack Grealish. Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold — who has been to the fore under Carsley — is also among the absent contingent.

Rising Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers is among the five players drafted in as replacements and he may see some game-time off the bench, along with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen. Angel Gomes has impressed under Carsley but does not start at the base of England's midfield, with Curtis Jones and Conor Gallagher preferred. Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke all start in attack behind striker Ollie Watkins, who is in ahead of Harry Kane.