England secured promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League with a 5-0 thashing of 10-man Republic of Ireland in interim manager Lee Carsley’s last game in charge at Wembley.
After a turgid 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 made it 4-0 with a crisp shot from the edge of the area, his first touch after coming off the bench, before debutant Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed England’s fifth.
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.
England’s night of firsts reveals true value of Lee Carsley’s tenure
Sir Alf Ramsey remains the only England manger to win a World Cup, a status he may retain for another few decades, but Lee Carsley can bow out as the interim with a unique distinction of his own. Carsley is the only England manager to win promotion. And if that reflects both the newness of the Nations League and the reality that, in an otherwise successful reign, Gareth Southgate contrived to get relegated, Carsley has at least spared Thomas Tuchel a play-off in his first fixtures and can step down with an 83 per cent win rate. This was the most emphatic. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder oversaw England’s biggest victory over the country he represented 40 times.
Ireland were beaten in the space of eight minutes, when their earlier obduracy became irrelevant as they were reduced to 10 men and conceded three times. Uninspired before the break, Carsley’s team then showed a ruthlessness to capitalise as Ireland capitulated. A November of 3-0 and 5-0 wins, even as the number of withdrawals entered double figures, has been a personal triumph.
Richard Jolly, at Wembley17 November 2024 19:22
Roy Keane praises future son-in-law on first England goal, but warns ‘it’s not done and dusted yet’
Roy Keane praised his future son-in-law Taylor Harwood-Bellis on scoring his first England goal but jokingly warned the marriage to his daughter is “not done and dusted yet” after the Republic of Ireland were thrashed 5-0 at Wembley.
The 22-year-old Harwood-Bellis marked his debut by scoring just minutes after coming off the bench, to cap a week where his engagement to Keane’s daughter Leah has hit the headlines.
The notoriously stern Keane, who captained the Republic of Ireland as well as Manchester United, was working as a pundit for ITV at Wembley and couldn’t resist commenting when presenter Mark Pougatch explained that Harwood-Bellis was his future son-in-law.
“It’s not done and dusted yet,” he quipped, as fellow pundit Ian Wright laughed along. “Listen, things can change really quickly in the Keane household!”
Jamie Braidwood17 November 2024 21:02
Up next
England do not yet know their next match, as it will be a World Cup qualifier in March 2025. The groups for that qualification process will be drawn in December, so Thomas Tuchel will have a watchful eye on that draw.
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 20:00
Four players score their first England goals
In Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, four players scored their first ever England goal in the same game for the first time since October 1930 against Northern Ireland.
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 19:45
Carsley: “I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking”
Speaking to ITV, Lee Carsley says that “it was a good performance”.
‘I thought the way we started the game was good and we played with real intensity. It was frustrating to come off 0-0 at half-time but I had the belief that we would score the goals.
“It was a great evening for a lot of players and the main thing was getting promotion. That was the main thing we said we wanted to do so that was pleasing.”
“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking. I see them day in day out on the training ground and now we’ve seen it.
“I can only do what I was in control of. It’s not a gamble with some of these players, they are excellent players, they want to overcome anything in front of them and at the under-21s they have had an expectation of winning.
“It [his spell in charge] has given myself and the staff the confidence that we can do the job. You always doubt whether you can do the job, and there’s a lot of people in their homes picking the squad and picking the team.
“The trust from my bosses has been a massive boost of confidence.”
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 19:36
Kane: “It’s been a really good camp”
Harry Kane tells ITV that today’s result was “really important” for England.
“It has been a really good camp and two tough games. We got the job done in Greece and again here.
“It was a tough first half but we came out with more energy and we finished it off.
“We spoke about new opportunities for new lads and they’ve shown why they are here and a couple of good finishes. It was nice for Jarrod [Bowen] too to come on and score straight away.
“Thomas [Tuchel] has a lot of players to choose from. A lot of young players that have come in and done well and some more experienced players that are injured and will be looking to come back, so there’s a good balance.
I’m sure he [Tuchel] will be looking at everyone.”
On Lee Carsley’s impact as interim boss, Kane adds: “He has been top drawer, him and all the staff. After the Euros it was never going to be easy to come and go straight into the Nations League and sometimes the motivation is a bit less.
“I’m really glad we won today and finish off on a high.”
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 19:20
FULL-TIME! – England 5-0 Ireland
That result means England win their group and get automatically promoted to the ‘A’ leagues. They’ve avoided a play-off in March, too.
The next time we see the Three Lions, it’ll be with Thomas Tuchel in charge.
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 19:07
FULL-TIME! – England 5-0 Ireland
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 18:58
FULL-TIME! – England 5-0 Ireland
The referee brings the game to an end and England are promoted back to the ‘A’ leagues in the Nations League.
It wasn’t pretty in the first half but some brilliance from Kane and Bellingham – as well as a red card for Ireland – unlocked the door to an easy win.
Chris Wilson17 November 2024 18:53
