LEE CARSLEY believes England can win the 2026 World Cup — but only if the Three Lions embrace change.
Interim boss Carsley saw his gamble to play without a recognised No 9 backfire in the shock 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday.
England’s men have not won a major tournament since 1966. But after two Euro final defeats, Carsley is on a mission to find the magic formula that will see Harry Kane and Co finally end 60 years of hurt.
Carsley said: “I’m really wary of the fact that the last time we won something was 1966, so we have to have that ability to try something different. We’re not that far away. We have been close twice.
“It was important that I put my own stamp on the team and the squad and tried something different because the understanding is that, unless it changes, it won’t change.”
Predecessor Gareth Southgate took England to the last two Euros finals, losing to Italy on penalties in 2021 and 2-1 against Spain in the summer.
He also oversaw World Cup campaigns that ended at the semi-final stage in 2018 and last eight two years ago.
But Southgate was often criticised for being too cautious tactically.
Now Carsley, who takes charge for the fourth time as caretaker on Sunday’s Nations League clash with Finland, added: “Your human instinct is to be safe, to go with things that you’re comfortable with.
“But I felt it was important to be out of my comfort zone.
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“I have to try something because we’ve got to put ourselves in a position where we can win.
“To think that we can just do the same again and expect something different is naive.
“I don’t want to sit back in a month’s time with regrets that I was safe. This is a great opportunity, not only for myself but for the rest of the staff and players to try something different.
“We’re also looking bigger picture in terms of World Cup qualification and then hopefully the World Cup — that we’ve got a good understanding of the player capabilities.”
Some reports claim Carsley has doubts over taking the job long-term but he refuses to rule himself out completely.
He said: “I don’t see this as an audition. I don’t see it as the biggest chance I have ever had.
“I see it as a privilege. I see it as an unbelievable responsibility.
“I have got three more games left and I want to try to make sure that the squad are in a really good position.
The youth paves the way
“That we have seen players play in different positions and we are in a healthy position.”
Carsley, 50, wants to adopt a more attacking brand of football, having triumphed at last year’s Under-21 Euros playing that way.
It was the latest in a number of youth competitions won by England in the last decade.
And Carsley believes it will pave the way to senior success — just like it has for Germany and Spain in recent decades.
Asked if he really felt England can win the next World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico, the former Everton midfielder replied: “Yeah.
“The past is a good indicator of the future and we’ve got quite a few players now that have won a lot with England. They’ve felt that before.
England stars ‘used to winning’
“They come to St George’s, they come on England camps, and they’re used to winning.
“They’re used to being in the latter stages of competitions and being successful. That can only be a good thing for us.
“If you think back to that Germany team, and the Spain team, that were really successful at the younger age groups that came through.
“I think potentially we could be coming into a period of that ilk.
“We’ve been so close in the past and with a bit more luck, or belief, on our side it could have been different.
“But as we stand at the minute it’s not, so I believe that we could be coming into a phase of that kind of success.”
