Nations League build-up: Carsley to make changes against Finland and Bellamy looks for win in Montenegro (2024)

Live Reporting

Craig Nelson, Holly Bacon & Gary Rose

1. England news conference - how to followpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:33 BST 9 September

   England v Finland (Tues, 19:45 BST)

   England

   Don't forget you can click 'watch live' at the top of this page to follow the England news conference.

   For those who can't watch along, we will feature a text commentary, with quotes from Lee Carsley and Harry Kane coming up for you.

   Stay tuned.

2. 'He's made a good start with his first squad, team selection and then the win'published at 14:27 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:27 BST 9 September

   Phil McNulty Q&A

   @pitchsidedevils on 'X': Unsure about Carsley, should he get the job in a permanentbasis? I remember thinking this about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a few games atManchester United.

   Phil: Far too early to say buthe's made a good start with his first squad, team selection and then the win.

   Possession is ninetenths of the law, so they say, and Carsley is the man in possession with thefirst and biggest opportunity to make an impression on those at the FootballAssociation who will make the decision.

3. Kane and Carsley to speakpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:23 BST 9 September

   Alex Howell
   BBC football news reporter at Tottenham’s training ground

   The room is starting to fill up as the journalists get ready to ask questions to England interim head coach Lee Carsley and England captain Harry Kane.

   Kane is set to make his 100th appearance for England tomorrow and I’m sure a lot of the questions to him will be about that.

   Image source, BBC Sport

4. 'Carsley is well aware of the young talent at England’s disposal'published at 14:16 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:16 BST 9 September

   Phil McNulty Q&A

   Eddie: Phil, doesn't itget boring constantly saying a team should be built around one player. Thereare 11 players on the pitch, with all having a say in the game, with many ofthem very talented. Things go wrong when you rely on one player to be the oneto win your games, and when they get injured, you have nothing to offer.

   England has so muchyoung talent and it should be built around that.

   See Also

   Starten met e-Captain - e-Captain helpcentrum (powered by e-captain.nl)Inloggen in e-Captain - e-Captain helpcentrum (powered by e-captain.nl)

   Phil: It sometimes happensthat certain players are a focal point and I do think Jude Bellingham will bethat as England’s number 10. It is up to the manager to devise a system thatgets the best out of him and also players like Phil Foden, which was a puzzleGareth Southgate did not solve at Euro 2024. Now it is Lee Carsley’s task tofind the right formula.

   What we already know isthat Carsley is well aware of the young talent at England’s disposal and all thesigns are he will be prepared to use it.

5. 'Harry Kane, fit and at his best, is still the best choice in my opinion'published at 14:08 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:08 BST 9 September

   Phil McNulty Q&A

   Image source, Getty Images

   Anon: Phil - is it justme who gets more and more annoyed when I read Kane saying he wasn’t 100% andthat losing the final puts fire in his belly. First things first being in thefinal should do that but it clearly didn’t as he trotted around with no purposeand secondly if you're not 100% step aside. Gone are the days when we didn’thave the depth. Past exploits don’t win current trophies.

   Phil: I think he simply meantthe defeat against Spain in the final will make him even more motivated to winsomething with England and I get that. I am pretty sure it was not a lack offire in his belly that made him below par at the Euros. Lack of full fitnessmaybe, but not lack of fire and motivation. Harry Kane simply does not worklike that.

   I am sure he did hisbest physically but he looked out on his feet and seemed to be struggling withan injury. And players do not step aside. I am sure he will have haddiscussions over many things with Gareth Southgate then the manager makes thedecision. There was clearly a problem, though, and I can’t disagree with you onthat.

   I do agree England haveplenty of depth but Harry Kane, fit and at his best, is still the best choicein my opinion.

6. Postpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:04 BST 9 September

   England

   England's interim boss Lee Carsley will shortly be sitting down to face the media. He'll be joined by captain Harry Kane who is set to pick up his 100th England cap tomorrow night.

   Our chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering some more of your questions, focusing on the Three Lions.

   We'll take you through those before we hear from the England camp.

   Return to the latest post

7. 'Bellamy's a much deeper thinker than people give him credit for'published at 14:00 British Summer Time 9 September

   14:00 BST 9 September

   Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

   Image source, Getty Images

   More from Luke Edwards, speaking in the latest episode of Football Daily, about Craig Bellamy and what he needs to take from his mentality as a player to be a success as Wales manager:

   "Craig Bellamy prolonged Alan Shearer's career by doing his running for him at Newcastle. So he was selfless, in that respect.

   "I expect him to take that into his management, and I know he has become a lot more thoughtful as he has gotten older. He has matured, as well all have. So while he will bring that combative nature into the role, I think he is a much deeper thinker than people give him credit for.

   "I hope he brings that pride back to playing for Wales...knowing him he will want them [his players] to have a go - a proper get-up-and-go. Be combative, be hard, be difficult to beat, don't stop running.

   "If they work harder than the opposition teams then hopefully Wales will have a chance [under Bellamy]."

   • Click here to listen to the full episode of Football Daily

8. Bellamy was 'difficult, challenging and rubbed people up the wrong way'published at 13:55 British Summer Time 9 September

   13:55 BST 9 September

   Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

   Image source, Getty Images

   Football writer Luke Edwards covered Wales manager Craig Bellamy earlier in his playing career, during his four years at Newcastle United.

   Bellamy signed for the north east club in 2001, when he was in his early 20s, and formed a great partnership up front alongside Alan Shearer.

   "I knew Craig Bellamy as a young firebrand at Newcastle," Edwards said in the latest edition of Football Daily. "He was difficult, he was challenging, he rubbed people up the wrong way.

   "He used to get booked for dissent all the time. The Newcastle fans used to collectively go 'shhhh', so you would have 52,000 people telling him to be quiet when he started arguing with the referee.

   "He upset the great Alan Shearer - I think they had a bit of a falling out. But he was a fantastic player and I think what people who knew him, even then, when he was young and rough around the edges, combative and confrontational, was that he had this huge desire to win.

   "He wanted to make the team better. He wanted to play for the team."

9. Montenegro v Wales - the statspublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 9 September

   13:51 BST 9 September

   Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

   Wales are hoping to follow Friday's impressive display against Turkey with another in Montenegro. But how much hope can Wales gain from the stats?

   • Away-form problems: Wales have won just one of their past nine away matches in all competitions (three draws, five defeats) – the Dragons last recorded just one away win over a 10-game period back in 1991 under Terry Yorath.
   • Montenegro's poor run: Montenegro have lost their past three matches in a row, losing to Belgium, Georgia and Iceland. They have not had a worse run of defeats since losing four consecutively between October 2015 and March 2016.
   • Struggling for goals: Wales have gone four consecutive internationals without a goal for the first time since September 2012. They have not had five games in a row without a goal since between March and September 2005.
   • Long time no see: Wales will meet Montenegro for the first time since September 2011, a 2-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium.

10. Bellamy's Wales aim to build on bright start in Montenegropublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:46 BST 9 September

    Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales

    Image source, Getty Images

    Wales will look to build on their promising start under Craig Bellamy when they face Montenegro in the Nations League on Monday.

    In Bellamy’s first game at home to Turkey on Friday, Wales thrilled with their adventurous, aggressive new playing style even as they were held to a goalless draw by the 10-man Euro 2024 quarter-finalists.

    The next test for that bold approach is an away game against a Montenegro side who lost their opening match in Iceland 2-0.

    “Different opposition, different threats, different qualities, different weaknesses, so we'll definitely look to adapt,” said Bellamy.

    “I watched a lot of Montenegro leading into this, the game against Iceland, and we’re quite clear about what we want to do.

    “If we can follow on from Turkey about how we are without the ball, we cannot let that go.

    “When I talk about non-negotiables, that's where it is, and then it will allow us to be able to hopefully have a big impact in the game.”

11. Lockyer targeting 'one more' Wales cappublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:40 BST 9 September

    Image source, Getty Images

    Wales defender Tom Lockyer says he would love to earn “one more” international cap after stepping up his recovery following his cardiac arrest.

    Lockyer, 29, has returned to individual training at Championship side Luton Town for the first time since suffering a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth on 16 December.

    The Hatters defender has since revealed that he was "technically dead" for nearly three minutes at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium but has not ruled out playing again - although he has said he is also “at peace” if he is forced to retire.

    “I'm really positive and happy with how things are progressing,” said Lockyer who won the last of his 16 caps in November 2023.

    “Obviously I don't want to get too far ahead of myself but obviously I wish I was playing.

    “I would love one more cap. Just one more. Just give me one more but it's a long way away.”

12. 'We’ve got some good years ahead': Wales fans on Bellamypublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:34 BST 9 September

    Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

13. The long journey awaiting Wales fanspublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:28 BST 9 September

    Montenegro v Wales (19:45 BST)

    Hats off to the commitment of Wales fans who are making the trip to Montenegro for tonight's match.

    It's already a three-hour flight to the capital Podgorica, which is where Wales were meant to be playing their Nations League fixture.

    However, the pitch was deemed unplayable and the game will now be played 53km away in Niksic.

    As a result, The Football Association of Wales (FAW) have provided free coach travel to the match. Another hour of travelling!

    A real effort for the supporters to get there.

    Manager Craig Bellamy says it won't affect his side, but hopes the new surroundings don't slow the game down: "There's a running track around the pitch, which is a little bit different.

    "Hopefully we'll have ball boys on the side because we could lose 20 to 30 seconds for every throw-in. It does happen."

14. More to come from 'outstanding' Wales, says Bellamypublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:20 BST 9 September

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales

    Image source, Getty Images

    Craig Bellamy praised Wales for an "outstanding" display as they started his reign with a Nations League draw against Turkey, and said there is much more to come from his team.

    Bellamy's adventurous new playing style was evident as Wales sparkled against the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists in Cardiff on Friday, even if they were unable to turn their dominance into victory.

    The former Wales captain only had four days to prepare his players for the match and was encouraged by what he saw before their next game in Montenegro on Monday.

    "[The players were] outstanding. We've had a lot of work this week. There have been a lot of meetings and I am always conscious of a load of information going into the players in a short space of time," said Bellamy.

    "But they were great this week and that gives you confidence. Believe me, this is the worst we are going to be. The more we learn, the more we spend together, the finer details.

    "It's such a good start, but there's way more to come from this team.

    "I am not a master at this after one game, trust me. But I enjoyed it. It was a great country to play against in your first game and I am really happy."

15. Coming uppublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:17 BST 9 September

    In just over an hour's time we'll be hearing from England interim boss Lee Carsley and captain Harry Kane, ahead of his 100th cap.

    Beforehand, let's turn our attention towards the Wales camp. They take on Montenegro this evening.

16. Manchester United new stadium plans move forwardpublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:11 BST 9 September

    Image source, EPA

    Local councils have agreed to work with Manchester United to ensure the area around Old Trafford benefits from plans to redevelop the ground.

    The club set up a task force chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe to explore the feasibility of renovating the stadium or building a new one.

    Manchester United, Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have entered into a partnership to ensure the plans benefit the area around the stadium.

    Lord Coe said the agreement would "help fully unlock the incredibly exciting potential" of the redevelopment.

    Read the full story here.
17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:07 BST 9 September

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Will be interesting to see how Carsley fits the missing trio of Palmer Bellingham and Foden into this set up. IMO Kane is at risk as I can see LC looking at Bellingham/Gordon as a false 9...

    Anon

18. 'He was hugely respected as a player and personality at Goodison Park'published at 13:02 British Summer Time 9 September

    13:02 BST 9 September

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Paul: Could you see LeeCarsley in the Everton dugout in the future?

    Phil: You’re not the first tomention this, Paul. Obviously, his first priority is England and he is in agreat position to stake his claim for that but if the FA decide to go elsewherethen I am sure it is pretty certain that his name would be mentioned in theconversations should Everton be seeking another manager at some time in thefuture. He was hugely respected as a player and personality at Goodison Park.

    Image source, Getty Images

19. Full qualifying draw in Women's Champions Leaguepublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 9 September

    12:54 BST 9 September

    Before we move back to Phil McNulty's Q&A, here is a full list of ties in the second round of qualifying for the Women's Champions League, which has been split between clubs who reached this stage as league champions and those that qualified via league placing:

    Champions Path

    • Anderlecht (Belgium) v Valerenga (Norway)
    • Benfica (Portugal) v Hammarby (Sweden)
    • Galatasaray (Turkey) v Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
    • Osijek (Croatia) v Twente (Netherlands)
    • Roma (Italy) v Servette (Switzerland)
    • St Polten (Austria) v Mura (Slovenia)
    • Vorskla Poltava (Ukraine) v Celtic (Scotland)

    League Path

    • Fiorentina (Italy) v Wolfsburg (Germany)
    • Hacken (Sweden) v Arsenal (England)
    • Juventus (Italy) v Paris Saint-Germain (France)
    • Paris FC (France) v Manchester City (England)
    • Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portugal) v Real Madrid (Spain)

    NB: Matches will be played over two legs, the opening legs will be on 18/19 September and the return legs on 24/25 September

20. Celtic face Vorskla Poltava in Champions League play-offpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 9 September

    12:50 BST 9 September

    Image source, SNS

    Just another word on Celtic, who will face Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava for a place in the Champions League group stage.

    The Scottish champions, who have never previously reached the group stage, were unseeded in the champions' path of Monday's draw.

    The Ukrainian champions are playing in the Champions League for a fifth season but have only progressed beyond the qualifying rounds once - losing to Shymkent of Kazhakstan in the round of 32 three years ago.

    Celtic, who secured the Scottish title for the first time last season, won their first-round mini-tournament in Lithuania after beating KuPS of Finland 3-1 then hosts Gintra 2-0.

    Vorskla Poltava, meanwhile, eased aside Latvian side Riga 5-0 before beating hosts Ferencvaros 2-0 in Hungary.