England: Lee Carsley sends World Cup message to Thomas Tuchel as interim spell ends | OneFootball

The interim boss believes he has left the Three Lions in great shape ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Lee Carsley says England have "all the tools" to win the 2026 World Cup and believes he has left the squad in "a fantastic position" for Thomas Tuchel.

Carsley signed off his six-game spell as England's interim head coach with the 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, ensuring promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League before Tuchel takes over in January.

The German was named as Gareth Southgate's permanent successor in October on an 18-month contract, with a clear remit to win the World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico.

Lee Carsley will write up a dossier for Thomas Tuchel

AFP via Getty Images

"I think we are in a good position to [win the World Cup], I think we have the talent to do it," the former Everton midfielder said.

"I have been lucky now to be at the last couple of World Cups and the timing of the players being in form, physically and mentally, at the right time, picking the right squad [are important]. We have got all of the tools. We just need to play them in order."

Across three camps, Carsley handed full international debuts to eight players, including Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Taylor Hardwood-Bellis against Ireland, and recalled Dominic Solanke after a seven-year absence. He also made the likes of Rico Lewis and Anthony Gordon regulars after bit-part roles under Southgate.

"They have definitely earned the right to be there," said Carsley, who insisted he is "really content" to return to his job as Under-21s boss.

"I suppose it has been easier for myself as I know them so well, so I did not see it as such a gamble. The biggest thing about what you notice about these young players is their mentality. Any challenge you put in front of them is not too big that they can produce.

"We have seen that and the challenge is to get back [into the squad] in March. Thomas’ pool of players has increased so we have left the squad in a fantastic position.

We have such attacking talent in this group of players that I felt the best way is to attack and we have shown that you control games

Lee Carsley

"It is all about the players and they have put themselves in a position where they can challenge each other."

Southgate's oversaw enormous progress during eight years in charge but was criticised for his often-conservative style of play.

Carsley's side aimed for more control of possession, albeit against second-tier Nations League sides, and he believes England have shown they can win while playing progressive football.

"I want to attack," he said. "And I think you might have seen me play and I was quite defensive and quite negative. I did not want to coach like that.

"I think we have such attacking talent in this group of players that I felt the best way is to attack and we have shown that you control games. It is fair to say the challenges will be more difficult in the 18 months in terms of if we are going to win the World Cup.

"We have shown we can do it. I suppose at the start of this we would say I have just done something that was expected in terms of getting qualified from this group but we have to take a lot of positives from it.

"We have given the lads a lot of opportunities and the most pleasing is that they have shown everyone what they can do."

Accommodating Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham, as well as potentially Gordon, remains a conundrum for Tuchel after Carsley's failed experiment with playing all five - but no recognised centre-forward - in the 2-1 home defeat to Greece last month.

Carsley said he "did not have enough time" to work on his game plan but suggested that Tuchel could pick his No.10 based on form.

"I think the best chance of us winning is if we can find a place [for them]," Carsley said. "You saw the Greece game at home, I tried that. So it is a challenge. It needs work. It’s one thing you don't get with the international camps is time. So we just have to find that balance.

"If they’re all in form at exactly the same time then it’s a challenge, but players do come in and out of form and it’s putting them in the team when they’re flying and resting them when they’re not.”

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