What do England need to get promoted in Nations League? Three Lions' tough task explained
Lee Carsley's spell as interim England manager concludes with trip to Greece and home against Ireland and the Three Lions know they must win both to earn promotion
by Alan Smith · The MirrorEngland must beat Greece on Thursday night to stand any chance of being promoted to the UEFA Nations League's top tier.
Lee Carsley's interim spell in charge will end with the visit of Ireland - whom he represented as a player - to Wembley on Sunday evening.
But the Three Lions would already be out of the reckoning if they are unable to find a way past the group leaders in Athens this evening..
With eight withdrawals on Monday from the squad named by Carsley last week, this window has already taken on an air of farce with England in a holding pattern before Thomas Tuchel officially begins as head coach on January 1.
Yet there is still something tangible to play for this week - a place among the continent's best in UEFA's new-ish competition.
England's loss to Greece at home last month, when Carsley named an attacking line-up that lacked cohesion, has left them with an uphill battle in Group B2.
The Greeks maintain a 100% record, having also twice beaten Ireland and once versus pointless Finland. And they also have a three-goal advantage on goal difference, meaning even if England win this evening they would still need to overcome that deficit.
And with Greece taking on the Finns at the same as Carsley's side host Ireland, that appears a tall order.
If England finish second in the group, they go into a promotion play-off against one of the third-placed League A sides.
Currently that would be Poland, Belgium, Hungary or Serbia and a two-legged tie would take place on March 20 and 23.
That will be Tuchel's first window in charge. By that point the German boss will also know England's qualifying opponents for the 2026 World Cup. The draw will take place on December 13 with 12 groups featuring four or five nations.
There remains a slim chance England could slip to third spot in their Nations League group but it would mean having to lose both games this week with Ireland beating Finland and a goal difference swing of 10.
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