Kane lauds ‘top drawer’ Carsley as England interim boss signs off in style

Harry Kane has praised Lee Carsley top-shelf after he ended his interim spell as England manager with a resounding victory and promotion in the Nations League.

The Three Lions defeated 10-man Republic of Ireland 5-0 at Wembley on Sunday, with Kane scoring the opener before Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis all scored their first international goals.

Carsley finished with five wins and one defeat as they finished top of Group B2 and used his time in charge to give younger players opportunities in the first team ahead of the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in January.

Kane believes he has stood England in good stead for the future and was pleased to end the Nations League campaign on a high.

“A very important win for us. It was a very good camp and two tough games,” Kane told ITV Sport.

“We got the job done in Greece and here too. It was a tough first half, but we came out with more energy and finished it.

“We talked about new opportunities for new guys, and they showed why they are here and got some good results. It was fun for Jarrod [Bowen] also to come on and score immediately.

“Thomas has a lot of players to choose from. A lot of young players who have come in and done well, and some more experienced players who are injured and want to come back, so there is a good balance. I'm sure he [Tuchel] will look at everyone.

“[Carsley] has been top notch, him and all the staff. After the European Championship it would never be easy to go straight to the Nations League and sometimes the motivation is less.

“I'm really happy that we won today and can finish on a high level.”

1930 – With Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, four players scored their first goal for England in the same match against Northern Ireland for the first time since October 1930 (Harry Burgess, Jimmy Hampson, Sammy Crooks, Eric Houghton ). Fantastic. pic.twitter.com/ithseUhULY

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 17, 2024

Sunday's victory marked the first time four players had scored their first goal for England in the same match since October 1930 against Northern Ireland, when Harry Burgess, Jimmy Hampson, Sammy Crooks and Eric Houghton were on target.

Harwood-Bellis, Carsley's most used player at Under-21 level, was the eighth player to make his debut by the former Ireland and Everton midfielder.

“It's a great day for me and my family. It's every young child's dream to make their debut, and to score the goal is magical,” the Southampton defender told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I had a few hints yesterday that I would be needed at some point, but when I got the nod to come I was over the moon.

“There is always a path and we young people believe that we can join the seniors. We know that the door is open if we take our chances. I have to thank Lee [Carsley] because he called me and I rewarded him with a nice goal.

“Playing for my country at every level is something I am so proud of. Playing for the seniors is something you dream about; it is the pinnacle of football, doing it and scoring is a feeling.”

Gordon scored the second of England's goals with a volley, hitting the back of the net for his country for the first time since his ninth cap.

“Better late than never. It's definitely about time!” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It was a good feeling to see it go into the net, I got to spend it with some of the guys I've been around in the England set-up, which made it even more special.

“They made it very difficult; they defended with eleven players behind the ball, but I said to the boys: 'They can't keep that up for 90 minutes, that's not possible.'

“I think Lee deserves a lot of credit; he gives us so much confidence.”