The interim boss made a strong case to land the position permanently as the Three Lions outclassed their neighbours in Dublin
England began the post-Gareth Southgate era with a bang as they waltzed to a 2-0 victory away to Ireland in the UEFA Nations League, which showcased Lee Carsley’s credentials to be named permanent coach of the Three Lions.
Carsley shunned the suit for the big occasion and instead showed he was proud to be a tracksuit manager, even laying out the cones for the warm-up. And it soon became clear that in just a handful of training sessions, he has already left his imprint on this team.
England looked far more comfortable in possession and played far more exciting football than in their stuttering run towards the Euro 2024 final. Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were the stars of the show, scoring a goal each in front of a baying mob of supporters still furious about their defections from the Boys in Green to the Three Lions.
Anthony Gordon also had a positive evening and must be excited about the prospect of playing for Carsley, with whom he won the under-21 European Championship last year.
The only negative for England was another anonymous display from Harry Kane, who looked no better in Carsley’s set up than he did during the Euros. For Ireland, however, there were negatives to be seen everywhere.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Aviva Stadium…
WINNER: Lee Carsley
The interim boss showed his character the night before the game by declaring that he would continue to not sing the national anthem before kick-off to avoid getting distracted. It instantly made him a figure of controversy and had some newspapers calling for him to be snubbed for the permanent position.
But his stance showed a manager at ease with himself, someone determined to be his own man. His team then showed similar character on the pitch, monopolising the ball but playing fast, dynamic and attractive football. It was the perfect antidote to the stuffy, reactive football we saw from England at the European Championship, especially the exquisite move which led to Grealish’s goal.
The level of opposition was obviously lower than what England are going to face at major tournaments. But as first auditions go, this could hardly have gone better.
LOSER: Harry Kane
This was a performance in which nearly everyone in an England shirt shone brightly. Except the captain and all-time top scorer. Kane had a miserable Euros and never looked at full fitness or sharpness. And despite getting off to a strong start to the Bundesliga season, he looked toothless again for his country.
Kane spurned a fine early chance when he headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross over the bar and never got the rub of the green in his subsequent openings. He was twice denied by Caoimhin Kelleher and saw a shot blocked right before Rice showed him how it’s done to open the scoring.
Kane still appears to be enjoying the same protected status as under Southgate and is certain to keep his place for the next game against Finland at Wembley, which will be his 100th appearance for England. But he needs to get firing again.
-
AFPWINNER: Grealish & Rice
More than a few fans had made special banners to greet Rice on his return to Dublin six years after he turned his back on the Ireland team after making three friendly appearances for the senior team. Him and Grealish, who played for Ireland’s youth teams before defecting to England, were labelled snakes but once the game kicked off, these rebels attacked with venom.
Rice dictated the pace of the game but also bared his teeth, smashing England into the lead after Gordon and Kane had failed to take advantage of a quick counter. He then played three passes in the build-up to Grealish’s sublime goal.
Grealish had a point to prove after being dropped for the Euros and did just that with perhaps his best display for his country, coming alive in the No. 10 role. Dublin, the city where he spent so much time as a hopeful youth player, could prove to be the scene of the rebirth of his England career.
-
Getty Images SportLOSER: Heimir HallgrImsson & Ireland
Ahead of kick off, Ireland fans held up a banner in tribute to the late Jack Charlton, the Englishman who made them punch above their weight and reach a World Cup quarter-final. Those days are very much in the past though as Irish football is enduring a long downturn while neighbours Scotland and Wales have thrived.
There was an excited atmosphere before kick off but once Rice and Grealish has scored there was a familiar feeling of pain and suffering. Ireland have opted for a change of tactics by employing the former Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson after Stephen Kenny’s attempts to play progressive, possession football badly backfired, with the team losing six of their eight Euro 2024 qualifiers, only beating Gibraltar. But the end result was the same.
There were a couple of positive moments such as Jayson Molumby’s missed diving header from a corner and Sammie Szmodics’ attempt on the break, but they were few and far between. The hosts barely got hold of the ball and struggled to lay a glove on their hated opponents.
-
AFPWINNER: Anthony Gordon
Gordon was expected to play a key role for England at the Euros after his stunning season with Newcastle but he played a meagre two minutes in Germany, which naturally left him hugely disappointed with Southgate as he felt “unstoppable” at the time.
The fact he was in the starting line-up was a victory in itself and he was a thorn in Ireland’s right side throughout. He galloped through the middle before the first goal, and while he should have scored at the first time of asking he stayed motivated and kept the move alive, with Rice scoring instead.
He will be disappointed that he could not score or get a direct assist but his electric pace was a reminder of what England were missing at the Euros. He showed here that he could have helped the Three Lions get over the line last summer but there should be plenty more opportunities to come if he keeps this level of performance up.
-
Getty Images SportLOSER: Seamus Coleman
You have to feel for Seamus Coleman. He has been a tireless servant for club and country, staying loyal to Everton throughout his career in England and playing for Ireland for 13 years now. But he has had miserable fortune with injuries, which continued as he hobbled off with a painful-looking Achilles injury in the second half.
Coleman broke his leg at the Aviva Stadium in an international against Wales back in 2017 which sidelined him for 10 months, so painful memories must have come flooding back when Harry Maguire scraped the back of his Achilles.
Source goal.com
-
