David Beckham famously sent England to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea when he scored a mind-boggling free-kick deep into injury-time in the last qualifying group match against Greece.
It was 23 years ago this week that Becks lifted the Old Trafford roof, securing a 2-2 draw to hand Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team the point needed to go the finals in Asia where the Manchester United maestro gained redemption after being sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Now another generational midfielder is ready to make a monumental impact for England, although this time it’s in the Nations League and the match is at Wembley rather than Old Trafford.
To be fair, Cole Palmer will struggle to top the equaliser as a substitute in this summer’s European Championship final defeat to Spain but you know he’s going to give it a proper old rattle.
The other problem is Chelsea’s attacking midfielder may find himself sitting on the bench rather lining up for the national anthems even though he’s enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, scoring seven goals including four in the first half against Brighton at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.
Lee Carsley may opt to play Phil Foden in a central role with Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka behind Harry Kane in attack, providing the Bayern Munich striker is fit, as the interim manager struggles with a problem similar to the one of two decades ago when it proved almost impossible to successfully fit Steven Gerrard in the side with Frank Lampard.
It wasn’t a concern as England gained maximum points against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in their first two group matches as Palmer, Bellingham, and Foden were all absent.
But Carsley will have to ruffle a few feathers and faces a backlash if he makes the wrong call. Get it right, though, and his leadership and tactical nous will be recognised as he closes in on the full-time managerial position vacated by Gareth Southgate.
England and Greece both have six points from two games so far but the hosts will win by more than 1.5 goals at 10/11 with William Hill and in-form Palmer must surely start and he is 15/2 with Unibet and BetUk to break deadlock and 27/10 with the same two firms to score at any time.
• Gerwyn Price, the losing finalist last year, is 4/6 to beat James Wade in the World Grand Prix darts at Leicester. Stick him in a treble alongside Daryl Gurney and Dave Chisnall which pays 5/1 with bet365.
• Desert Flower can extend her unbeaten record by being first past the post in Friday’s Fillies Mile at Newmarket and is 7/4 with BetUK and BetMGM.
MORE : Victor Osimhen ‘considering’ January transfer move to Chelsea
MORE : Arsenal fans excited by new Martin Odegaard injury update
MORE : England fans can’t understand how Cole Palmer has won men’s Player of the Year
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