England

Let's see if there is any sign of that "killer instinct" Nigel Reo-Coker has called for in England's latest training session.

We will be streaming the session, which is taking place at Tottenham's training ground, live in this page.

Just click on the play icon at the top of this page, with the session expected to begin in the next five minutes or so...

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

My biggest concern is the second-half drop-off. That was a big concern from what we saw at the Euros and again now with Lee Carsley is in charge.

If we are going to be serious about winning a tournament, when you face the big boys like Germany, Spain and all these top teams, we can't have a second-half drop-off like we did [against the Republic of Ireland].

It's really now about utilising the talent that we do have in our possession to really hone in on that killer instinct - wanting to kill off games, wanting to dominate games for 90-plus minutes, not just 45 minutes and then saying 'ah, we can see change and progression'.

Former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker said on the latest edition of Football Daily that he was concerned about England's drop in performance levels in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

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@win_n10 on 'X': Is the Lee Carsley national anthem furore a barrier to him getting the England job? If so, do you think Everton should have him in mind if Sean Dyche does not turn things around soon?

Phil: My opinion is that this is totally a matter of personal choice for Lee Carsley as to whether he wants to sing the national anthem or not. It should not have the slightest impact on whether he should be England manager now or at any time in the future. He should be judged solely on results, not whether he sings the national anthem or not.

As for Everton, he may well fancy the idea of being England manager more than going into a crisis at Goodison Park, but he still retains huge respect from their supporters and - if he does not get the England job - then I am sure he would be in future conversations should there be a change of manager.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

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I think Jack Grealish played with a point to prove. He was obviously omitted from the squad for the Euros, not just coming back into the squad but in the starting XI, in that number 10 role.

I was really impressed with the way he handled himself and ran the game basically.

Vicky Gaskin, Wirral: Was it me or did England seem to have a much more positive approach under Lee Carsley?

Phil: Early days to say this, Vicky, but the indications were – and this was a side without Jude Bellingham of course – that they are looking to play with more tempo and dynamism. Only one game against poor opposition, though.

It was interesting listening to Anthony Gordon saying he felt England lacked dynamism at Euro 2024. He is correct, so maybe that is something Carsley will be looking to fix as soon as he can.

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Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you're not going to sing the anthem, you know everyone is going to watch you and you [Lee Carsley] stand there, staring ahead and by the way don't look that bothered. I like that. I'm impressed with that sort of strength of character, to say 'no no I've never done this, I'm not going to start doing it now because you put a little bit of pressure on me'.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

What impressed me about Lee Carsley was that he didn't change in any way.

He has always been a coach-style manager. We're in the stadium an hour before kick-off and he's the first one that comes out of the tunnel with the balls, the bibs and the cones. He's the one that sets the session out.

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Ex-Everton and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson were both on 5 Live Breakfast this morning, when they were asked about their first impressions of Lee Carsley in the England role. Here is what they had to say...

Tony Parker: First impressions of Lee Carsley? Seemed to get Jack Grealish firing and will he be the manager to get Trent Alexander-Arnold at his best for England?

Phil: Morning, Tony. First impressions are a good, winning start and some promising signs – although it is just a start against a poor Republic Of Ireland side.

If I can start with Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was significant Carsley has made it clear he is his man at right-back. I never felt Alexander-Arnold had the full trust of Gareth Southgate, who ended up playing his in midfield as a flawed “experiment” at Euro 2024.

The pass to release Anthony Gordon in the build-up to England’s first goal showed exactly what he can offer and the instant faith shown by Carsley is bound to lift his confidence and belief to play and create as he does for Liverpool.

What a weapon Carsley will have at his disposal if he can unlock the full range of Alexander-Arnold’s talents for England.

Carsley is also a very big admirer of Grealish, who has started the season seemingly determined to make up for his exclusion from Euro 2024, and handing him the number 10 role confirmed it. A goal and good performance was the reward.

Let’s see how they go against Finland.

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We conducted an unscientific poll earlier this morning on whether or not Lee Carsley should be given the England manager's job on a permanent basis.

There were only two options - thumbs up for yes or thumbs down for no - so no chance to hedge your bets and call for more time to assess his performance in the interim role.

However, the thumbs up are narrowly ahead, with 480 compared to 421 thumbs down, at the last count.

Click this link to take part in the poll.

J (a neutral) in Cardiff

Right, we are going to turn our attention back to England now, as we build up to a live stream of their latest training session, at about 11:15 BST.

Remember, BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty is on hand to answer your questions.

Maybe you would like to know whether Lee Carsley would be his pick as the next permanent England manager?

Send your questions via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above, marked for the attention of Phil.

Thanks...

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Chris

Northern Ireland are back in action away at Belarus on 12 October before Bulgaria travel to Belfast three days later.

Scotland, meanwhile, head to Croatia on 12 October before hosting Portugal on 15 October.

Steve Clarke's side are bottom of Group A1 with four games remaining. They will be relegated back to the second tier of the competition if they remain in that position.

It's important to note that winning a group in the Nations League offers a potential route into the World Cup qualifying play-off round, for any country that fails to reach that stage through the normal qualifying process.

That feat is certainly not out of reach for Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland, who are third in Group C3 on three points, one point behind joint leaders Belarus and Bulgaria.

Luke Edwards
Daily Telegraph writer on the Football Daily podcast

I think there's a new generation coming through and they will always be well-organised, disciplined, a threat at set pieces. Michael O'Neill knows what he's doing at international football.

If you can keep that core group of young players together for a prolonged period of time you have always got a chance in international football if you're organised, well-drilled and hard to beat - that's what O'Neill has made Northern Ireland for a number of years.

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Northern Ireland full-back Conor Bradley said: "We have to learn from it, pick ourselves up and go again.

"In the second half I thought we played really well. We know the first half wasn't good enough.

"We didn't keep the ball well enough and we kept giving away free-kicks. We brought the pressure on ourselves. There's a lot to learn from it."

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill felt the playing surface at the Stadion Hristo Botev was as poor as he had seen "in a long time".

His side's 1-0 defeat in the Nations League on Sunday left Northern Ireland third in Group C3 after two matches, following their opening 2-0 win at home to Luxembourg.

When asked if the surface was acceptable for international football, O'Neill answered "no".

He added: "It's not an excuse because it's the same for the Bulgarian players, but that's as poor a pitch as we've had in a long time.

"It didn't help either team and it probably led to a physical game and it made life difficult for the referee. Challenges looked mistimed, and there were probably too many yellow cards for challenges that were a consequence of the pitch as much as anything else."

BBC Sounds

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam said in the latest edition of Football Daily on BBC Sounds that Scotland do not have the players to change their footballing philosophy and try to open up the big nations, like Portugal, in the top tier of the Nations League:

"I don't think there is [a hangover from failing to reach the knockout stages at Euro 2024], I just think there is a realisation of where we are at as a country and as a nation.

"Some performances leading up to the Euros were good but ultimately we were disappointing and we know that.

"Again, we have to realise as a nation where we are and what we have got. As a group of players we can't go and get after teams, we will just get opened up, especially when we are playing the big nations in pot one, group one [of the Nations League].

"You have to be solid. To hear calls for Scotland to change philosophy, to get after teams and open the game up, we can't do it, we have not got the players."

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

Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland

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After Cristiano Ronaldo had stretched a supple leg to turn in his 901st career goal and down Scotland, he tore away to the corner flag to perform his customary celebration with all the gusto of a man scoring his first.

He was not done there either, parading down the touchline gesturing and screaming as if he had just scored a goal worth more than three Nations League points.

The 39-year-old has exited the main stage in club football with his move to the Saudi Pro League, and his ecstasy at coming up with yet another big goal for his country at a packed and rowdy Estadio da Luz tells you he probably knows it.

But such is his determination, thirst for goals and success, and almost unrivalled finishing prowess, he keeps finding a way to remain relevant.

Having been left on the bench and unleashed at half-time by Roberto Martinez with Scotland 1-0 up, the game almost instantly became the Ronaldo show.

Before his winner he hit both posts, moaned and furiously gesticulated at the referee and team-mates, while also being pursued by a pitch invader at one stage.

Scoring 901 professional goals is a ridiculous feat, but - such is his ferocious appetite - you really would not bet against him getting to 1,000.

Nobody tells Ronaldo when to step aside. Even if some might want him to.

• Click here to read the full feature.