GARY LINEKER lauded three decisions made by Lee Carsley in his first game in charge of England.
Interim boss Carsley, 50, began life after Gareth Southgate with a 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland on Saturday thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
It is the first of six matches Carsley has been guaranteed as he looks to make the case for him to be given the job permanently.
Former England striker Lineker, 63, hailed the inclusion of Anthony Gordon, Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And he also claimed those unhappy with Southgate's style of play during England's run to the final of the Euros in the summer will now be saying "we told you".
Speaking on The Rest is Football, he said: "It’s interesting as well, isn’t it, that perhaps some of the things fans were most disappointed about in the Euros - well, probably three things, maybe more.
"But everyone wanted Anthony Gordon to play on the left because we all saw a weakness and an unbalance on that side.
"Also that he can run behind players because Kane likes to come short and you’ve got to have a threat behind so he did that.
"The other thing was he [Southgate] left Jack Grealish out of the squad which a lot of people were bemused by and he’s come in and performed really well.
"And obviously, he never really trusted Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the first game Carsley has come up with all these things and a lot of us are going 'you see? We told you'."
Newcastle winger Gordon, 23, played just one minute at the Euros as Southgate opted for Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in the wide areas.
But he was always a threat against Ireland and made the run in behind which began the move for Rice's opening goal.
Grealish, 28, missed out on the Euros altogether following a disappointing season for Manchester City which saw him contribute just three goals and three assists in 36 appearances.
But he hit back at his critics and the boos ringing around the stadium - due to him representing Ireland at U21 level - with a goal and accomplished performance in the No10 role.
Alexander-Arnold, 25, spent the first two games of the Euros playing in midfield in an experiment widely criticised.
He was then dropped and only played 11 more minutes in the tournament, although he did score the winning penalty against Switzerland.
But the Liverpool man looked far more at home at right-back against Ireland, moving into midfield in possession.
With Kyle Walker absent from the squad, Alexander-Arnold fizzed a wonderful pass into Gordon which led to Rice's goal.
Carsley's second game in charge comes against Finland at Wembley on Tuesday.
Much of the discussion in the lead-up to the Ireland match surrounded Carsley's decision not to sing the national anthem.
But he immediately silenced those doubters as his side produced a sensational opening 45 minutes.
After the game, he said: "In the back of your mind you always think... you know, it's easy to be the England manager, isn't it, when you're sat in the house.
"There have been times where I've thought I'm not sure if I could do it.
"But it [the Dublin win] has done my confidence good, and the rest of the staff as well, that actually we're OK, we'll be all right.
"I think it's natural to have doubts."