England vs. Greece: John Stones to Captain Three Lions as Harry Kane Starts on the Bench

England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, has announced that John Stones will captain the Three Lions in their Nations League clash against Greece at Wembley on Thursday evening. The decision comes after regular skipper Harry Kane was ruled out of the starting lineup due to a minor injury.

Kane, who has been a key figure for England in recent years, picked up a knock during Bayern Munich’s final game before the international break. He has been training separately from the rest of the squad and will start the game on the bench, although Carsley did not rule out a potential appearance later in the match.

“Harry’s nursing an injury, a small knock, something we won’t take a chance with,” Carsley explained at a press conference on Wednesday evening. “It’s something that we won’t take a chance with. We’re not ruling him out yet of the game, but he won’t start.

“Hopefully he will be in contention for Sunday, but again, time will tell. It’s not something we should be rushing.”

Stones, who has been capped 82 times for England, will take on the captaincy for the first time since the start of a match. The 30-year-old defender has been in impressive form for Manchester City this season and Carsley is confident he will lead the team with distinction.

“It was a great conversation I was able to have with John to ask him to captain the team,” Carsley added. “It’s a brilliant achievement, something he deserves with the amount of caps he’s got, the experience he’s got, the level of professionalism he’s shown, the example he is to young players.”

Stones expressed his excitement and gratitude at being given the honor.

“It’s everything I could have dreamed of as a kid,” Stones shared. “More for my family, to be able to see me walk out as England captain is a special moment. One I can’t thank Lee enough for. An incredible moment for me.

“To be walking out with the armband on is an absolute honour and a moment I’ll cherish forever.”

Assessing the Injuries and Potential Lineup

The absence of Kane is a significant blow for England, but Carsley has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal. The likes of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and Jack Grealish are all vying for starting spots.

However, Grealish’s availability is also in question, with Carsley revealing he picked up a “slight knock” on Tuesday. “We’ll assess Jack later,” Carsley said. “Our attitude would be we wouldn’t gamble with any of the players. It’s important we put them first rather than ourselves.”

Carsley has also been impressed by Cole Palmer’s recent form for Chelsea and hinted that the young forward could be in line for a start. “Cole is in fantastic form,” Carsley said. “He’s carried that into this week. Such an exciting player, a player I’ve worked with for four, five years now.

“Cole, along with a lot of other attacking players who have put themselves into a great position to start the game.”

A Look Ahead: England’s Nations League Campaign

England are currently second in League B Group 2, level on points with Greece but trailing on goal difference. A win against Greece would put them in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs.

The Three Lions will then face Finland at Wembley on Sunday in their final Nations League match of the year.

The Importance of the Nations League

The Nations League is a relatively new tournament, but it has quickly become an important fixture for national teams. It provides a platform for players to gain experience and for coaches to experiment with different formations and personnel.

The tournament also offers a chance for teams to prepare for major tournaments like the European Championship and the World Cup. England will be looking to build momentum ahead of the next European Championship, which will be held in Germany in 2024.

A Tribute to George Baldock

Ahead of the match, both England and Greece will wear black armbands and observe a period of silence in memory of former Sheffield United defender George Baldock, who tragically passed away at the age of 31. Baldock was a popular figure in the Sheffield United dressing room and his loss has been felt deeply by the football community.

“George Baldock may have been brought up 120 miles south of Sheffield but he was truly forged in the steel city,” wrote Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic’s former Sheffield United correspondent, in a tribute to the late defender. “And will be deeply missed.”

Don’t Miss the Action!

The England vs Greece match is sure to be an exciting encounter, with plenty of storylines to follow. Don’t miss out on all the action, tune in and cheer on the Three Lions!