'PROUDEST DAY' ON CARSLEY'S DEBUT

England's interim boss lauds the players for smooth 2-0 win over his native Ireland

England's interim manager Lee Carsley deflected all praise to his players for their fluid passing performance in his first game in charge, describing the easy 2-0 Nations League win over Ireland on Sept 7 as the "proudest day" of his football career.

Carsley, who had been managing England's Under-21s since 2021, and led them to the European title in 2023, will oversee two games in September with a view to staying on through the autumn, as the Three Lions search for a fulltime successor to Gareth Southgate. The fourth-ranked side next host Finland on Sept 10.

Asked if the team's forwardthinking display - albeit against a team ranked 54 places below them was the mark of "Cars-ball", the former Everton midfielder said it was certainly not the case after just four training sessions together.

"It's definitely not that, it's the players. I'm just lucky that at the minute I'm coaching them," said the 50-year-old former Ireland international, who accidentally walked into the wrong dugout at the start of the game.