5 days Ago By Josh Ball
It’s all about the highs and lows of management today, with one coach signing off having done almost everything that was asked of them, and another wondering whether going back for a second stint really was the right idea. Lee Carsley’s time as interim England boss is over, and despite a few bumps he hands over a squad that appears in rude health, and with several new faces in it. Warren Gatland, meanwhile, has gone from being a lauded member of Wales’ glorious rugby past, to overseeing the worst run of defeats in the team’s history.
How times change. England won promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League with a 5-0 romp over 10-man Ireland in Lee Carsley’s last game in charge at Wembley on Sunday. After a poor first half, Harry Kane’s penalty, Anthony Gordon’s volley and a tap-in by Conor Gallagher in the space of five minutes at the start of the second broke Ireland’s resolve.
Jarrod Bowen scored with his first touch and Taylor Harwood-Bellis rounded things off with a goal on his debut. Ireland played virtually the whole of the second half with 10 men after Liam Scales was sent off for a foul on Jude Bellingham that resulted in England’s penalty. “I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking,” said Carsley, who now hands the reins over to Thomas Tuchel.
“I can only do what I was in control of. It’s not a gamble with some of these players, they are excellent players.” Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Norway thrashed Kazakhstan to seal promotion to the top flight of the Nations League.
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