England winners and losers: Who performed under Lee Carsley during Nations League campaign ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure?

Winner: Kane still the main man…

Three goals in four starts, that pass to Jude Bellingham and little competition from Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke – Harry Kane has proven he is still England's main man.

Enter Thomas Tuchel, the manager behind Kane's best ever season, when he scored 44 times in 45 games. If the 2026 World Cup will be the last for the then 33-year-old Kane, he is worth the last roll of the dice.

Kane's biggest problem is that he needs to be fresh for the tournament at the end of another tough season, but he insists: “I'm performing at the highest level I've ever performed and feeling as good as I've ever felt felt.”

England's success under Tuchel will depend on how Kane is used – and that should be from the start anyway.David Richardson

Loser: …or do England need backup up front?

I don't agree with that. There has been a lot of focus on which players could benefit from Tuchel's arrival in the new year, but the England captain has not had the best of times under Lee Carsley.

He was surprisingly dropped for the Greece match, so he may be looking forward to reuniting with the man who signed him from Bayern Munich last summer.

Against the Republic of Ireland it was his defence-splitting pass to Jude Bellingham that acted as the turning point, but Kane looked well off the pace before then. He was slow on the ball and his touch was often heavy. It was even sad how a late shot hit the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher.

Ollie Watkins was underplayed. Dominic Solanke was overlooked with just 33 minutes played. Carsley's decision to keep Kane on the pitch, with England already beating the Irish 3-0, felt like a vote of confidence.

If they are drawn into a group of four for the World Cup qualifiers, Tuchel's reign will begin with a pair of friendlies in June. He must use them to give Kane's students a good chance.

England used 32 players under Carsley – no team used more during the Nations League. Tuchel now has a bigger squad to choose from, and he shouldn't overlook the striker department for a contingency plan if Kane's decline is faster than initially expected. Ben Grounds

Winner: Gordon benefits from a horses-by-course approach

Anthony Gordon was Carsley's striker during England's triumphant Under-21 European Championship season last year, but the Newcastle man has emerged as the interim boss's first-choice left winger this autumn. It all points to a prominent role under Thomas Tuchel, who Gordon claims tried to sign him for Chelsea.

The 23-year-old described his goal against Ireland as 'long-awaited', but his first strike on the international stage only underlined his growing status in this side. He provides the dynamic, direct running that helps stretch opposing teams and, just as importantly, maximizes the skills of captain Harry Kane.

Interestingly, Jack Grealish, who played as a number 10 alongside Gordon in Dublin and against Finland at Wembley before being deployed in his more famous left-wing role in Helsinki, also impressed by scoring twice.

The Man City man is a different option to Gordon, but that variation on the left will be an asset for Tuchel, who is known for his horse-for-course selections. Peter Smith

Loser: Maguire falls further down the defensive pecking order

Harry Maguire has gone from England's central figure to international exile in eight short months. Most of that is beyond his control as a spell of ill-timed injuries takes their toll, but it now looks like a long road back for one of Gareth Southgate's most trusted lieutenants.

The fears when he was excluded from Euro 2024 seem so fanciful now. The Southgate students were so reluctant to give up opportunities to flourish, showing there is life beyond a Maguire and John Stones partnership for the Three Lions.

Just as Maguire looked set to return to Carsley's first team, he was brought down again – and this extended absence could prove fatal to his international hopes.

In his absence, Marc Guehi has shown he is just as comfortable on the ball and has an arguably better passing range, Ezri Konsa is playing Champions League football and even Levi Colwill, reborn at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, is also a strong option.

At 31, Maguire still has plenty of time in the game. It would be a sad end to a stellar England career if those injuries curtailed his international future, but with more mobile, equally capable alternatives that could be exactly the way things go.Ron Walker

Winner: Tuchel gets more options from Carsley

It's not often that a new manager is unveiled three months before he actually starts his job – and five months before he takes charge of his first game. Thomas Tuchel's curiously delayed arrival in the England hotseat has given him an enviable opportunity to study and prepare for what's to come.

He won't start work until January 1, but will have been keeping a close eye on Carsley's leadership. The wave of withdrawals from the interim coach's final camp likely worked in his favor, allowing him to see players who normally wouldn't have been given a chance.

Previously under-capped individuals such as Curtis Jones and Lewis Hall have gained invaluable experience, eliminating those potentially awkward first steps into senior international football and leaving Tuchel with a wider pool of ready-to-play players. ready players to choose from. Nick Wright

Loser: Rashford needs Tuchel's lifeline

Rashford has become the forgotten man. After not being included in Gareth Southgate's 33-player shortlist for Euro 2024, Carsley once again left out the Manchester United striker.

Since making his debut for the national team in 2016, Rashford had never missed a team for which he was fit prior to this season. The 27-year-old represented one of Southgate's proven players. He was among the three most productive players during his tenure and was among his eleven most used players.

His inconsistent form for United has seen him fall down the pecking order on the left flank.

Thomas Tuchel has expressed his admiration for Rashford in the past, so perhaps the new England manager can offer him a lifeline. William Bitibiri

Winner: Carsley positions himself as Tuchel's successor after auditioning

It took too long for Carsley to take a public stance on his own future, but now that he has one, he has positioned himself well as the next England manager.

Carsley's muddled thinking on and off the pitch during his second England spell saw him give conflicting answers about the role, and produced the worst performance of his tenure in the Greek debacle at Wembley.

With the incessant questioning now ended with the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, Carsley has been given a chance to catch his breath and find a better full-time position.

Performances were mixed outside of Thursday's win in Athens, but the results speak for themselves and several key players have made it clear they are happy to work with him.

And having led England back to the top level of the Nations League, he is keen to point to the evidence he believes shows he can succeed.

With the FA's glowing farewell press release, which came just minutes after Sunday's 5-0 win over Ireland, he must feel his employers share this belief.

Ironically, the defeat to Tuchel may have laid the foundation for his best chance at the top spot – it will have to wait a little longer.Ron Walker

Winner: Bellingham benefits from free role

Jude Bellingham was back to his best against Ireland and aimed a subtle attack at Gareth Southgate by thanking interim boss Lee Carsley for giving him his “smile back” in an England shirt.

Bellingham produced three assists during this international break, adding to his strike against Greece in October when Carsley's strikerless experiment failed at Wembley.

The Real Madrid star thrived in the No.10 role under Carsley after cutting a frustrated figure during the European Championship, playing on the left of a front three later in the tournament.

He will face competition for the role, especially from Cole Palmer, but has had a timely reminder of his quality.David Richardson

Loser: Foden is in danger of being left out

Given his day job as Under-21 boss, it is perhaps no surprise that Carsley gave the youth a chance.

He made his debut for eight players, while Morgan Gibbs-White, Noni Madueke, Angel Gomes, Lewis Hall, Morgan Rogers, Curtis Jones, Tino Livramento and Taylor Harwood-Bellis earned their first caps. It will be Carsley's legacy.

They were all given an advantage over the established players, who now have to fear for their future in England. Phil Foden played just 82 minutes in the Nations League campaign.

Gareth Southgate failed to get the best out of the Manchester City forward. The feeling is that with Cole Palmer likely to compete with Jude Bellingham for the number 10 role, Foden is in danger of being left out.

Gary Neville recently made the point that certain players are suitable for international football, referring to Harry Winks, Jamie Redknapp and Nicky Barmby. All good players, but not elite at club level. The fear for Foden is that perhaps Pep Guardiola's greatest legacy could be lost in the domestic game.Ben Grounds

Winner: Hall could be Carsley's best parting gift to Tuchel

England have been in dire need of a left back for some time now.

In fact, the 5-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League was only the second game in the last thirteen in which a natural left-footer was used in this role. It gave England defensive balance and a more reliable threat going forward.

Lewis Hall got the nod from Carsley after coming off the bench in Athens to impress on his senior debut against Greece.

The 20-year-old has been a regular for Newcastle this season and could be one of Carsley's best parting gifts for new boss Tuchel when he names his first team in March.

Hall is now well positioned to cement himself in Tuchel's plans, with relatively little competition around him.Patrick Rowe

Loser: Wharton has a mountain to climb

“We've been short of players like this for seven or eight years,” said Gareth Southgate after including Adam Wharton in his 26-man squad for the 2024 European Championship.

The Crystal Palace midfielder did not play a single minute in Germany and his position in the national team has only deteriorated.

Wharton has not been included in any of the three England squads since Southgate's departure and recently underwent surgery to resolve a groin problem, which he played with at the start of the 2024/25 season.

This, coupled with the midfield duo of Jones and Gomes both impressing when Lee Carsley was given the opportunity, has seriously damaged his chances of getting back into the side under Tuchel.

Wharton now has a mountain to climb if he wants to catch the new boss's attention in 2025.Patrick Rowe