Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Roy Keane criticizes defenders from Liverpool and Chelsea in match against Greece

Roy Keane lays into Liverpool & Chelsea defenders' vs Greece


It doesn’t happen often, but Roy Keane was pretty much left lost for words at England’s defending in their 2-1 defeat to Greece on Thursday.

The Three Lions fell to a dismal loss that puts their hopes of promotion back into League A in serious jeopardy, with a Vangelis Pavlidis brace either side of Jude Bellingham’s equaliser giving the Greeks a deserved first-ever win at Wembley.

Interim boss Lee Carsley fielded an experimental starting line-up in the absence of injured captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane.

Instead of starting either Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke, Carlsey instead opted to load the midfield, with Declan Rice, Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka all starting in a 4-2-2-2 formation.

The latter limped off through injury just after half-time and even then, Carsley brought fellow winger Noni Madueke on as his replacement, only finally introducing a striker in the 60th minute in the form of Watkins.

Despite all the creative quality on the pitch for England, it was Greece who looked most threatening throughout, with only VAR saving the Three Lions from further embarrassment with three disallowed goals.

Roy Keane blasts England defending vs Greece

The manner of England’s defending will worry supporters, with the likes of Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Levi Colwill looking completely void of composure throughout.

Palmer and Saka were also among those called out as Keane went to town on England’s defending for the first Greece goal:

It didn’t get any better from there, with Pavlidis’ second just as shambolic.

England must pick themselves up quickly as they travel to Finland on Sunday, knowing they cannot afford to drop further points if they wish to maintain hopes of topping the group and earning promotion.

As for Greece, they host the Republic of Ireland with the chance to further cement their place at the top of the standings.

Top photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images