Southgate’s successor
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Lee Carsley has taken over as interim England manager, following in the (Site notre bureau spécialisé)steps of Gareth Southgate. After his debut 2-0 win over Ireland, for whom the 50-year-old has made 39 international appearances, he admitted to having doubts about his new role. « Deep down I still think it’s easy to be England manager when you’re at home, but there were times when I thought, ‘I’m not sure I can do it’, » Carsley said (as quoted via The Times).
Southgate is one of the most successful England managers in history with a points average of 2.08 in 102 games. Carsley has been coaching England U21s since 2021, with whom he won the European Championship title in 2023. « I think it’s absolutely normal to have doubts. When I went to the European Championships with the U21 national team, I was scared to go home in ten days, but I learned from that experience. If you can deal with setbacks and have good people around you, it becomes easier.
Carsley can prove himself by the end of the year – “Media is not my strength”
In the 2022/23 season, England were relegated from League A of the Nations League and must now compete in League B against Ireland, Finland and Greece. The 1966 world champion only earned three points from six games against Germany, Italy and Hungary and lost 4-0 at home to Hungary. The English FA gave Carsley the group stage of the Nations League, which ends in November 2024, to prove himself. The English team is by far the most valuable with a market value of €1.47 billion, followed by European champions Spain with €1.01 billion. The three group opponents have a collective value of around €400 million.
“I have some really good supporters around me who help me and take a lot of pressure off me. “It gives me the opportunity to train and be on the pitch and hopefully make a difference,” Carsley explained, referring to his assistant manager Steve Holland, who is heavily involved in the team’s training. He also has a good relationship with John McDermott, the FA’s technical director. “My strength is coaching and being on the pitch. Talking to the media is not my strong point but I know it’s part of the job.
Harry Kane, who made his 99th appearance for the Three Lions against Ireland, received further praise after his first international under Carsley. « He’s a great example on and off the pitch. I think he’ll be invaluable in my short time but also in the future. » The Bayern forward had a goal disallowed at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Kane will make his 100th international appearance for England against Finland on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London.
