While Didier Deschamps’ mandate is still running after twelve years at the helm of Les Bleus, England is preparing to launch the post-Southgate era at the same time as its Nations League campaign on Saturday (6pm). To replace the former holder of the post, who resigned after the Euro, and open a new era, the English Federation has chosen Lee Carsley, European champion with the English hopefuls.
“I was afraid my mind would wander”
The former Everton midfielder played for Ireland 40 times between 1997 and 2008, and it is in Dublin that the biggest assignment of his modest coaching career will begin in a hostile environment this weekend. But just because the Birmingham-born Englishman chose to represent Ireland as a player doesn’t mean he’s going to refrain from singing God Save the King when the national anthem plays at the Aviva Stadium. There’s a reason for that.
If you don’t see his lips moving tonight, it’s because Lee Carsley will already be fully in his game. “It’s something that’s always been a problem for me, including when I was playing for Ireland,” he revealed this week. “I was worried about my mind wandering. I was very focused on the game and I took that into account in my coaching. I’m in a zone at that moment. I’m thinking about how the opponent is going to set up and what our first moves are going to be in the game.”
Angel Gomes in the list
The English will easily forgive him if the game proposed by the selection excites them as much as the attacking football that he put in place with the Espoirs during Euro 2023 (nicknamed Carsball). Carsley is sometimes described as the antithesis of Gareth Southgate, which should allow him to gather some precious support in case of a hard blow. For his first list, Lee Carsley chose to launch young shoots, crowned with him in Georgia, including Lille’s Angel Gomes.
- RMC Sport
