Soccer

OLLIE WATKINS will be “raging” and “knocking on Lee Carsley’s door” after not starting for England against Greece, says Alan Shearer.Three Lions’ interim boss Carsley, 50, suffered his first defeat as national team coach on Thursday night as his side suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley.Ollie Watkins came off the bench after an hour against GreeceCredit: PAEngland were without captain Harry Kane as he was not declared fit in time for the clash.Yet instead of replacing him with second-choice striker Watkins, 28, Carsley opted to line up without a striker.Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham rotated as the most advanced player, before Watkins came on after an hour.The Aston Villa forward’s place on the bench comes after he scored 27 goals in 53 games for Unai Emery’s men last season.READ MORE ON ENGLANDHe went to the Euros under Gareth Southgate and scored a 90th-minute winner against Holland in the semi-finals.Ex-England striker Shearer, 54, feels Watkins should be furious and demand a start against Finland on Sunday.Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast: “You would be absolutely raging if you were Ollie Watkins, wouldn’t you?”Your main centre-forward is injured and you’ve been crying out for an opportunity.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”When you’ve come on, you’ve actually done alright… and he’s doing well at club level.”Yet when Kane is out, the manager comes to you and says, ‘Well, I’m not going to play you tonight at home against Greece, I’m going to try something different’.Lee Carsley appears to admit staggeringly short amount of time England practised bold new tactic before Greece shocker”He’s got every right to be [raging], he should be knocking on his door, tonight or tomorrow, saying: ‘I have to play the next game if Kane is not fit’.”Watkins has earned 15 England caps, scoring four goals.Just five of those have been starts – the last of which came in a 3-0 win over Bosnia in June.It is not yet known whether record scorer Kane will be available for the trip to Finland.England player ratings vs GreeceBy Tom BarclayLEE CARSLEY’S tactical experiment of playing no strikers backfired as Vangelis Pavlidis’ double secured an emotional shock win for Greece at Wembley.Interim England boss Carsley played all three of our nation’s gifted No10s – Phil Foden, Jue Bellingham and Cole Palmer – in varying positions.But it did not work and the Greeks took a deserved lead thanks to Pavlidis’ belting second-half finish.The visitors then held up a shirt in celebration bearing the name Baldock – in reference to their team-mate George Baldock, whose passing at the age of just 31 on Wednesday rocked the world of football.Bellingham looked to have ensured the points were shared with a thunderous strike with three minutes to go.But there was still time for Pavlidis to expose some woeful defending deep into injury time by firing past Jordan Pickford.Here are SunSport’s player ratings from a dire night for England under the arch.Jordan Pickford: 4Wandered into no-man’s-land territory outside his box early on and lost the ball, allowing Greek skipper Tasos Baksetas a free shot at goal – only to be saved by Levi Colwill’s last-gasp clearance. Did not instil confidence, despite his experience.Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6Some tasty passes – they are his speciality, after all – but not great at the back. He, John Stones and Cole Palmer were weak in their attempt to close down Vangelis Pavlidis before the Benfica man smashed home the opener.John Stones: 5Made captain for what was his 82nd cap, surpassing Rio Ferdinand’s haul. But it was a shaky display from his defence and Stones should have done better to stop Pavlidis.Levi Colwill: 7Greece would have been ahead far sooner were it not for Colwill’s athletic hack away to deny Bakasetas. Replays showed it would have crossed the line had the Chelsea man been a split second later with his incredible intervention.Rico Lewis: 6Tried to bomb up the left flank where he could but, just like Kieran Trippier at the Euros, was hamstrung by constantly having to cut back onto his favoured right foot.Declan Rice: 6Played as England’s only holding midfielder, as fans had been imploring Gareth Southgate to use him for years. It was not like he was overrun but his side did look vulnerable on the counter.Phil Foden: 4Spent most of the game pressing the Greek backline as a false nine without really getting on the ball and causing any damage. Ineffective. Cole Palmer: 6Deployed in a deeper, central-midfield role which at least meant he saw plenty of the ball, though he blazed England’s best chance of the first half over the bar. Remarkably, his first competitive England start, despite being named on Tuesday as Three Lions player of the 2023-24 season. Bukayo Saka: 5Struggled to get into the game and then was forced out of it, worryingly limping off early in the second half. The last thing Arsenal fans wanted to see.Jude Bellingham: 7 STAR MANPlayed in a false nine position and had a belting early shot well saved. The system did not work but Bellingham still so nearly emerged as the saviour by banging in his first goal of the season for club and country.Anthony Gordon: 5Caused Greece few problems and his touch looked off it. Had a decent chance from Alexander-Arnold’s peach of a delivery but headed over.SUBS: Noni Madueke (for Saka 52): Played out on the left, rather than his natural right, when coming on. Went down in the box deep into injury time but no penalty was given. 6Ollie Watkins (for Gordon 60): Almost scored with his first touch when played through by Palmer, but smashed just over. 7Dominic Solanke (for Foden 72): Grabbed an assist when laying the ball back to Bellingham who thumped in the leveller. 7Manager Lee Carsley: 4Seemed to gamble unnecessarily with this experimental system instead of playing it safe to add another win to boost his case to earn the job full-time. Carsley played without a natural centre-forward when winning the Under-21 Euros because he had to after Flo Balogun switched the USA and Rhian Brewster got injured, but here he did it by choice and it did not work. Bellingham looked to have saved his bacon – but then Pavlidis struck again. More

LIONEL MESSI ranted about the waterlogged pitch after Argentina drew with Venezuela.Nicolas Otamendi’s early opener was cancelled out by a goal from former Everton and West Brom striker Salomon Rondon.Lionel Messi complained about the condition of the pitchCredit: AFPRain meant parts of the surface were waterloggedCredit: GettyKick-off was delayed by 30 minutes as staff cleared waterCredit: ReutersAfter the match Messi complained his side had to ditch their gameplan because of the pitch conditions.Rain left the ground soaked and inhibited the ball’s movement during the match.A clip of Messi warming up showed the ball stopping dead after he hit a shot against the bar, with water preventing it from bouncing at all.Messi believes the conditions made for an “ugly” match as it prevented passes from being made with players having to “battle” instead.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches.”We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little is played.”We tied because the pitch didn’t help us do what we wanted, we had to play a different game than the one we prepared for.”But we were prepared because we fought, won the battles, played with the error of the rival. We couldn’t risk much by playing with passes to the back. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”In the first half we made a couple passes to the back and the water would stop it, and complicate it. We did the game we could with the water.”Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to the pitch conditions before the referee judged it okay to play.David Beckham rewarded as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to second trophy by knocking reigning champions off their perch More

GRAEME SOUNESS astonishingly labelled Arsene Wenger “lucky” and “not a football man” in a remarkable rant about the legendary Arsenal manager.Frenchman Wenger, 74, spent 22 years in North London and is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of the Premier League era. Arsene Wenger is one of the Premier League’s most iconic managersCredit: PA:Empics SportGraeme Souness astonishingly does not believe Wenger to be a ‘football man’Credit: GettyHe won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, while he was also in charge of Arsenal’s famous Invincibles side who did not lose a league game during the 2003/04 season.Yet despite his huge pedigree, iconic Liverpool midfielder Souness, 71, has disputed his credentials.The ex-Scotland international was asked on the Three Up Front podcast whether Wenger is a “football man”.To which he said: “No, not particularly. I’ve been on the bench listening to what he’s telling his players to do. I’ve been working for Sky in games where he’s made very strange decisions.READ MORE ON ARSENAL”My take on him was he got very, very lucky at a time when French football produced its greatest ever group of players.”Inherited the best back five in world football and a 22-year-old [Dennis] Bergkamp. I think Wrighty [Ian Wright], there was still life in him.”And then he had 10 years where he won a couple of FA Cups, because that cycle had been and gone. I’ve never spoke to him about football.”He would never come into my office after a game, the only manager that never did.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSArsene Wenger’s major trophiesArsene Wenger’s trophies as a manager:Monaco: Division 1, Coupe de FranceNagoya Grampus: Emperor’s Cup, Japanese Super CupArsenal: Premier League x3, FA Cup x7Individual honours (selected): Premier League Manager of the Season x3, LMA Manager of the Year x2, Premier League Manager of the Month x15, France Football Manager of the Year, English Football Hall of Fame, Premier League Hall of Fame “I’d go to his office after a game, he would never be there to talk football. I don’t know if he’s a football man or not. I never spoke football with him.”As well as his two-decade stint at Arsenal, Wenger, who claimed a league title with Strasbourg as a player, also won the French title with Monaco and two cups in Japan with Nagoya Grampus in the early years of his coaching career.Fans love what Arsenal legend was doing live on BBC during Gareth Southgate’s interview after Euro 2024 finalSouness’ trophy haul as a Liverpool player included five league titles and three European Cups.As a manager, he won three league titles in Scotland and spent three years as Liverpool manager between 1991 and 1994.His sole trophy in that period was the 1992 FA Cup.Souness’ only other managerial triumph in England came with Blackburn when they lifted the League Cup in 2002.He also coached Rangers, Galatasaray, Southampton, Torino, Benfica and Newcastle.Reacting to Souness’ comments, one fan replied: “This is absolutely shambolic from Souness.”Wenger won 3 Premier League titles, 7 FA Cups, went a full season unbeaten and is widely regarded as a revolutionary in the English game. I know Graeme’s keen to have big opinions but do me a favour.”Another added: “Absolutely embarrassing take.”READ MORE SUN STORIESA third said: “Can’t take him seriously ever. Great player. Bad pundit.”While a fourth responded: “Jealousy at its finest.”Arsenal ratings vs Southampton: Saka saves nervy Gunners with Jesus low on confidenceARSENAL came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 in front of a temporarily anxious Emirates crowd.Here’s how SunSport’s Ivan Speck rated every Arsenal player…David Raya – 6A spectator for most of the game. Could do anything to keep out Cameron Archer’s curling opener.Thomas Partey – 6Swapped his usual defensive midfield role for right-back, though given the one-way traffic, he barely had any defensive duties.But he supported Saka at every opportunity.William Saliba – 6Dependable as always when he was needed, which was mostly in the second half.Could have closed down Archer more quickly for the Southampton goal, but not alone in that.Gabriel – 6Spent more time in the Southampton box trying to get his head on corners than in his own area, especially in the first half.Handled the giant Paul Onuachu well when Southampton threw him on.Riccardo Calafiori – 5Given a couple of uncomfortable moments by Tyler Dibling.Did not seem to know which way the St Mary’s youngster was going half the time.Jorginho – 6Inches wide with a searing low shot late in the first half.Probed but rarely found an incisive pass through the yellow shirts. Taken off after an hour.Declan Rice – 6His usual solid self and tried to take on a more creative role with Southampton camped out in front of their own area, but prefers an open game to showcase his box-to-box talents.Raheem Sterling  – 7A freedom about his play. Happy to take on defenders at pace with his dancing feet.Unlucky not to finish off one dazzling run and even more unfortunate to be taken off after an hour.But was robbed of the ball for the Saints opener.Bukayo Saka – 9A game of two halves. Had to cope with being double-teamed every time he picked up the ball in the first half and there was disbelief around the Emirates when he launched one shot high into the stands.The second period was a different story. Tore Southampton to shreds time and again.A brilliant floated cross for Gabriel Martinelli to put Arsenal ahead, then a typically clinical finish for his side’s third.Kai Havertz – 8Proved his worth again as a scorer of important goals with the crucial equaliser just as nerves were beginning to jangle around the Emirates.Gabriel Jesus – 4Too long in the shadows has drained him of the belief he had when he first arrived at Arsenal as the main man up front.Two tame shots summed up his current ineffectiveness.SUBSGabriel Martinelli (Sterling 60) – 8Three weeks ago, his role in the Arsenal side was in question.His form has returned in spades with a second Premier League goal in successive weeks.Leandro Trossard (Jesus 61) – 7Like Martinelli, welcomed as a hero when he came on. Has become an important player in this Arsenal team. His run led to the third Arsenal goal.Mikel Merino (Jorginho 61) – 6A first Premier League appearance in Arsenal colours. Introduced just as the games was opening up and will benefit from the taster.Takehiro Tomiyasu (Partey 84) – 6Back from injury. Given a run out towards the end to ease him back into first team duties.Jakub Kiwior (Calafiori 90) – 6Introduced late on when the game was won. Not much to do. More

JACK GREALISH showed off his new trim after having his hair dyed earlier this week.The Manchester City star, 29, did not feature for England in their shock 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley on Thursday night.Jack Grealish had his hair dyed with blonde highlights earlier this weekCredit: TikTok / @astarbarbersFans are loving the Manchester City man’s new lookCredit: TikTok / @astarbarbersHe had the haircut ahead of England’s game with GreeceCredit: TikTok / @astarbarbersGrealish was topless while having the haircutCredit: TikTok / @astarbarbersIt meant fans did not get to see his new look as he sat on the bench with a hat on and hood up.However, Grealish’s dyed locks were seen earlier in the week courtesy of a TikTok from his hairdressers A Star Barbers.He was filmed having the dye put on, before the blonde highlights were unveiled and his hair was blow-dried.Bizarrely, Grealish was topless for his haircut.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd he spent most of his time in the barbers on his phone, looking up occasionally to catch a glimpse in the mirror.But fans appear to be loving the outcome as they praised the look.One said: “Bro’s new look is fire! Totally nailed it with that style.”Another added: “Jack looks fresh! Loving this new style, perfect for the pitch!”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSGrealish kept his new hairdo covered at Wembley as he wore a hat and his hood upCredit: GettyA third replied: “Grealish has the best hair in football.”While a fourth responded: “Make me that cut one day ❤️.”New dad Jack Grealish reveals why he would never ask Bukayo Saka to babysit and which England pal he’ll go to for tipsGrealish was named in Lee Carsley’s first England squad last month having missed out on the Euros in the summer.He started against Ireland and Finland – impressing in a more central role.But after not featuring against Greece, he will be keen for minutes in Finland on Sunday.Grealish has played nine games for Man City so far this season, assisting two goals. More