Continuity is to be the name of the game when England tackle Republic of Ireland in a Uefa Nations League game on Saturday. In a marked departure from the past when the country’s football governors turned to exotic foreign coaches with big name reputations like Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Eriksson, the FA promoted from within by naming Lee Carsley as Gareth Southgate’s successor on an interim basis.
England’s fiercely passionate, but often restless football fans needn’t be afraid of Carsley’s flimsy curriculum vitae. His lack of club coaching experience is not an impediment to his chances of succeeding as Three Lions manager.
Lionel Scaloni was equally unpolished when he inherited the coaching mantle at world football governing body Fifa’s number one ranked country, Argentina. He has since led La Albiceleste to consecutive Copa America triumphs and the Holy Grail that’s World Cup glory.
Needless to point out, the Pumas are getting used to playing without long serving skipper Lionel Messi who missed Friday’s 3-0 win over Chile in a 2026 World Cup qualifier and was forced off injured in Argentina’s extra time victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.
Southgate himself was a beneficiary of an internal promotion and he went on to surpass all his predecessors, bar 1966 World Cup winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey. Back to back Euro final losses are not to be frowned upon but viewed as a launching pad for the real thing.
Above them all is Spain’s Euro 2024 winning manager Luis de la Fuente who was promoted from U-17, U-19 and U-21 national sides. The 63-year-old followed up his Uefa Nations League triumph by dominating the continent while changing La Roja’s style from tiki taka to a wing based attacking modus operandi.
Carsley’s decision to recall much maligned Manchester United centre back Harry Maguire and hand places to Euro U-21 winning stars Angel Gomez, Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke is a sign he’s his own man who has the confidence to try ideas that served him well in limited age competitions.
Some of the big guns have already made their mark. Former Uefa Nations League and Euro winners overcame Croatia 2-1 courtesy of legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s 900th career goal, Poland outshone Scotland 3-2 at Hampden Park while Sweden overpowered Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku.
Didier Deschamps’ 2018 World Cup and 2021 Uefa Nations League winners France lock horns with Luciano Salletti’s Euro 2020 champions Italy tonight.
RESULTS
Belarus 0-0 Bulgaria,
Denmark 2-0 Switzerland,
Portugal 2-1 Croatia,
Azerbaijan 1-3 Sweden
Serbia 0-0 Spain
TODAY
France v Italy
TOMORROW
Rep of Ireland v England
