Summary

  1. Postpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    We've still got loads more of your questions to Phil to come.

    We're also going to step up our build-up for Scotland's and Northern Ireland's matches tonight as well.

    Stick with us, it's about to get busy.

  2. Postpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    Jude Bellingham made his 40th England appearance last night, all of which have come with non-British sides (24 as a Dortmund player, 16 Real Madrid).

    Only David Beckham (55) has more senior England men's caps with non-British clubs.

    Jude BellinghamImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'Bellingham had his best England game for some time with Watkins'published at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Shane: It is no coincidence that Bellingham played his best games without Foden and Palmer around him. Can Tuchel be brave enough to only play one of those once they are all in the same squad? I also think Madueke, Hall and Jones are the main contenders to stay in the senior squad.

    Hi, Shane. Fair point. It was interesting that Bellingham had his best England game for some time with Ollie Watkins, in for Harry Kane, playing right on the last Greece defender while Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke provided pace and width.

    This gave Bellingham room to operate in behind using his superb movement and vision, which troubled Greece all night.

    I am a huge admirer of Phil Foden, but he has not been at his best for England for some time. Cole Palmer is a rare talent but again has yet to fully show it when starting for England.

    Madueke and Curtis Jones have been major positives for interim manager Lee Carsley, who I am sure will give them glowing reviews in his report to successor Thomas Tuchel. The same should apply to Anthony Gordon.

    Lewis Hall has got a real opportunity because England’s resources look thin at left-back with Luke Shaw, the natural first choice, spending so long on the sidelines. It’s remarkable to think he played in the Euro 2024 Final against Spain.

  4. What are we covering this afternoon?published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    Hello. We're be keeping across this ongoing story on Rodrigo Bentancur's seven-match ban, providing more updates when we get them.

    We're after your questions for BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

    Plus, very soon we'll have build-up to tonight's Nations League matches, including Poland vs Scotland and Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland.

  5. Postpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    It's a better statue than this.

    Cristiano Ronaldo statueImage source, EPA
  6. Kane statue unveiledpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    While we've got you on the England captain, today a statue of Harry Kane has been unveiled at The Peter May Centre in London.

    That's where Kane played some his football growing up. Thoughts?

    Harry KaneImage source, PA
    Harry Kane statueImage source, PA
  7. Postpublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images

    Harry Kane has scored 28 goals in 36 appearances for England at Wembley, extending his record as top scorer at the venue for the Three Lions.

    Republic of Ireland were the 32nd different opponent Harry Kane has scored against for England; the most of any player.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    John Petrie on X: Tuchel's first big call is whether to keep Kane as captain or whether to appoint his own. Let's see if he has the nerve to make the change, which is probably needed.

  9. Tuchel 'will have to resolve' Kane questionpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Anon: Hi Phil, with England it’s clear Kane is the best striker we have, but we have a better ‘team’ without him in the starting XI. How do you solve the dilemma of best player or best team?

    This is one of the matters that will definitely be in Thomas Tuchel’s “in-tray”.

    Kane looked laboured once again against the Republic Of Ireland but then produced the game-changing moment, a brilliant pass that led to Jude Bellingham being fouled for the opening goal, scored from the spot by England’s captain.

    It was a pass delivered by Kane from out on the left wing, which shows how wide and deep he is drifting to get into the game these days. He does not have the physical intensity to lead the press, which was a real problem during Euro 2024.

    Contrast this with the win in Greece on Thursday when he was benched and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins played right on the last defender, creating pressure. He also scored an early goal to justify manager Lee Carsley’s decision.

    The position occupied by Watkins also allowed more space for Jude Bellingham in behind. As a consequence he had his best England game for some time.

    We know how highly new coach Thomas Tuchel rates Kane, he drove his move to Bayern Munich, but it is certainly one of the questions he will have to resolve.

  10. 'The pressure is never off when you are England manager'published at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Anon: With the sticky patch of Lee Carsley’s reign coming during the period when his results started to link him to the full time position, do you think knowing he wasn’t going to be managing past last night that the pressure was off everyone in the camp, not just him?

    The pressure is never off when you are England manager, even if it is just for the interim period, but there is no doubt in my mind the speculation around his position, and whether he or someone else would take the job, was a distraction, especially with the mixed messaging that came with it.

    In the end, Carsley won five games out of six, pushed forward some exciting young talent and returned England to the top tier of the Uefa Nations League – which fulfilled his remit.

    Carsley’s mission was accomplished and he can look back on a job well done.

  11. Jones, Madueke and Gordon have impressedpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Rachel: Hi Phil. Is there any particular England player that has really impressed you during the two Nations league games in the last few days?

    Hello, Rachel. I’ve been very impressed with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones in his two starts while Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has also been a stand-out. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has also made a really big impression. He looks very confident and comfortable at this level.

  12. 'No-one should ever under-estimate the job done by Klopp'published at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Anon: Hi Phil, Liverpool fan here. I know you probably answer similar questions most weeks but do you believe this Liverpool team has the potential to be better than the 2018-2020 team? I don't think we'll hit the points tallies we did under Klopp but think we'll win more. Gravenberch standout player for me so far, alongside Konate and of course king Mo.

    It is very hard to make that claim because that was such an outstanding team and no-one should ever under-estimate the job done by Jurgen Klopp.

    There is an argument Liverpool might have won more in that period but do not forget what they actually won, and that the two Champions League finals they lost were both against Real Madrid and they faced an extraordinary side in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City domestically.

    Klopp left a top-class team for Arne Slot, who has imposed a more controlled measured style and made an almost perfect start.

    Will they win more? Time will tell but the start has been outstanding and Slot has world-class players to work with.

  13. 'This is an appointment specifically designed to win the World Cup'published at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

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    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer your questions...

    Chris: Phil, as Lee Carsley's interim reign comes to an end with 5 wins from 6, the highest win percentage of any England manager ever(!), there's clear evidence that the FA's intense programme of developing the English game has made some progress. So, could you tell me why on earth the FA has taken this moment, off the back of back to back European finals no less, to press the nuclear button and recruit a foreign manager again. It makes no sense. It shows a lack of contingency planning and we all deserve so much better. Can we force some change at the FA please?

    Morning, Chris. This was a serious debate around Thomas Tuchel’s appointment and a very valid one. Should the FA appoint an English coach via their St. George’s Park “pathway” involving the so-called England “DNA” or simply the best man for the job?

    I can see both sides of this argument but my personal opinion is I have no objection to a foreign coach if he is the best man for the job. This does not mean I do not understand those who say it is a betrayal of the system in place.

    My view is the FA decided that the simple priority was to win the World Cup in 2026 and this is Tuchel’s specific task – as confirmed by the 18-month deal taking him through to the tournament.

    I do not see Tuchel staying after that no matter what happens. It is short-termism and the stakes are high for the FA because this is an appointment specifically designed to win the World Cup. If it does not work there will be understandable criticism.

  14. What will we cover this afternoon?published at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    Hello to those just joining us.

    We'll be keeping across this ongoing story on Rodrigo Bentancur's seven-match ban, providing more updates when we get them.

    For now, here's our full piece on the BBC Sport website and app.

    Earlier, we asked for your questions to BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty.

    Well, we've had some excellent responses and we'll be sharing you Phil's thoughts next.

    Plus, a little later we'll have build-up to tonight's Nations League matches, including Poland vs Scotland and Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland.

  15. More from the Regulatory Commissionpublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    The Regulatory Commission said: "In all the circumstances, we consider that, in terms of culpability and consequences, this breach falls towards the lower end of the guideline range but not the lowest point.

    "Cases can easily be envisaged which are less serious than this, but nevertheless subject to the minimum suspension of six matches.

    "In our view, the appropriate sanction is (i) a suspension of seven matches, (ii) a financial penalty commensurate with the available financial information, and (iii) a mandatory education programme."

  16. What were the decisions behind Bentancur's sanction?published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    In deciding on Rodrigo Bentancur's sanction, the Regulatory Commission said they considered, among other things:

    • Bentancur's high profile
    • The large internet followings of the journalist interviewing him
    • Bentancur having no known evidence of similar offences
    • And the fact Bentancur did not himself post or re-post his comments

    The Regulatory Commission also acknowledged Bentancur did not "intend his comments to cause offence to his friend, Son Heung-min, or to anyone else".

    The Regulatory Commission added "we consider his remorse was and is genuine."

    Rodrigo BentancurImage source, Getty Images
  17. What did the Regulatory Commission say?published at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    The Regulatory Commission considered Rodrigo Bentancur's explanation, but said the words the midfielder used were "clearly abusive and insulting".

    In their conclusion, the Regulatory Commission wrote: "Even on the basis of the player’s evidence and submissions, we consider the player’s conduct in using the words he did, in the full context in which they were used, was clearly abusive and insulting, and would amount to misconduct.

    "Even if the player intended those words to be a 'sarcastic and gentle rebuke'...to respond in those terms would be objectively regarded as insulting and/or abusive and highly offensive.

    "We agree with The FA’s submission: it would clearly be universally regarded as such."

  18. What was Bentancur's explanation?published at 11:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2024

    The FA's Reasoned Decisions includes Rodrigo Bentancur's explanation.

    The midfielder told the FA's panel he was "surprised and uncomfortable" by comments made by the journalist interviewing him.

    In a statement from the player, sent to the FA on his behalf by Tottenham, Rodrigo said his reply was "sarcastic and a gentle rebuke".

    Rodrigo added "the context of the exchange clearly shows [he] is being sarcastic".