England at risk of setting unwanted losing record in Nations League showdown with Ireland

England are at risk of setting an unwanted home losing record when they host the Republic of Ireland in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League showdown.

Thanks to a 3-0 beating of Greece on Thursday evening, the Three Lions have assumed first place in League B Group 2 and are in control of their own promotion destiny ahead of the final matchday.

Leading Greece on head-to-head goal difference after five games, Lee Carsley‘s side simply need to better the 2004 European champions’ result against Finland to return to League A at the first time of asking.

The visit of the Boys in Green will also mark Carsley’s final game in charge before the former Ireland international steps aside for Thomas Tuchel, but the 50-year-old has overseen one of England’s three Wembley defeats this year.

The Three Lions were memorably stunned by Greece 2-1 in the Nations League last month, prior to which Gareth Southgate oversaw a 1-0 friendly loss to Brazil in March and an identical reverse to Iceland in June.

England at risk of unwanted home record in Ireland fixture

© Imago

Should Ireland come away from the English capital with a shock win on Sunday, it will mark the first time in history that England have suffered four defeats at their national stadium in a single calendar year.

Only twice before have England suffered as many as three losses at their recognised home in one year, falling to a trio of defeats in 1977 and 1981, but they are yet to lose four times at Wembley in a calendar year.

However, the Three Lions’ previous exploits against the Republic of Ireland spells optimism for their chances of avoiding that unwanted slice of history, as they are unbeaten in all seven of their Wembley games versus the Boys in Green.

Not since 1949 have England been beaten in a home match against their near neighbours, but that defeat came at Goodison Park, and they have prevailed in four and drawn three of their seven encounters at Wembley.

The Three Lions could also achieve a more desired first on Sunday, where victory would see them beat Ireland three times in a row for the first time, having won 2-0 in Dublin in Carsley’s first game after a 3-0 success in November 2020.

Will Harry Kane start for England against Ireland?

© Imago

England put Greece to the sword in Athens despite seeing no fewer than nine players withdraw from the squad before the game, while Harry Kane was only considered for a place on the bench.

The captain eventually came on for the second half, but his absence was not majorly felt, as Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock inside just seven minutes before an Odysseas Vlachodimos own goal and Curtis Jones flick made the result even more emphatic.

Carsley has confirmed that he is planning to bring Kane back into the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, though, and the Bayern Munich star could be one of several alterations from the interim manager.

However, should Liverpool’s Jones hold his spot and net again, he could become the first Reds player to score on both of their first two senior England appearances since Roger Hunt in the early 1960s.

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