England v Finland: Predicted Three Lions XI for Nations League game

Lee Carsley will take charge of England at Wembley for the first time on Tuesday evening when the Three Lions host Finland in the Nations League. 

The interim manager saw his side cruise to a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland – the country Carsley played for – in his first game in charge on Saturday.

Ex-Ireland internationals Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were on target for England in Dublin, and Carsley will be hoping to see his side pick up where they left off.

Here, we predict the XI that he will select for the visit of Finland.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford kept his 32nd clean sheet in his 69th appearance for England on Saturday, and the Everton ‘keeper will start once again on Tuesday. Pickford has been England’s ‘keeper at the last four major tournaments, and he will hope to keep his place going into the World Cup in 2026.

Defenders

Carsley may opt to change very little from the side that started against Ireland, and with that in mind Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to start against Finland. The Liverpool man started at right-back on Saturday but spent much of the game in a role that more closely resembled that of a midfielder.

Alexander-Arnold made his 30th appearance for England on Saturday

At the heart of defence, John Stones will likely return and start with Marc Guehi. The pair have formed a strong partnership since England’s win over Serbia in their first game of Euro 2024, and Carsley is likely to revert to that duo despite Harry Maguire being back in the squad and starting last time out.

Levi Colwill started at left-back last time out but Manchester City youngster Rico Lewis could replace him on Tuesday. The versatile youngster played at left-back at times for City last season, and could do so for England on Tuesday in the absence of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell.

Midfielders

Declan Rice scored his fourth England goal on Saturday, against the country that he represented three times before switching his international allegiance. He will expect to start in midfield once again at Wembley, and will most likely line up alongside Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo. The teenager will most likely be deployed at the base of England’s midfield.

Rice scored against Ireland on Saturday

Jack Grealish – another former Ireland international – also scored against the Republic on Saturday, and the Manchester City man could once again start in a slightly unfamiliar midfield role. Grealish started as a more advanced midfielder last time out, alongside Rice, rather than in his usual role on the left flank.

Forwards

In attack, Bukayo Saka is expected to start once again. The Arsenal man hasn’t scored at Wembley since netting in a 2-0 win over Ukraine in March last year, so he will hope to add to his tally of 12 international goals on Tuesday.

Through the middle, Harry Kane is in line to join an elite club of players that have made 100 appearances for the Three Lions. The Bayern Munich star is already England’s record goalscorer with 66, and few would bet against him adding to that tally on Tuesday evening.

Kane is expected to make his 100th appearance for England on Tuesday

On the left, Anthony Gordon could be given a second successive start, having impressed last time out. The Newcastle United winger was a favourite of Carsley’s during his time with England Under-21s, and he will expect to play more regularly if Carsley is appointed permanently as the manager.

Predicted XI: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Lewis; Rice, Mainoo, Grealish; Saka, Kane, Gordon.