Lee Carsley says he will not sing the national anthem before England’s game with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and intends to instead be “focused on the football”.
Carsley was placed in interim charge of the national team by the Football Association following Gareth Southgate’s decision to step down as manager after Euro 2024.
The 50-year-old former midfielder was born in Birmingham but after qualifying through a grandparent played 40 times as an international for the Republic of Ireland.
He says he never sang the Irish anthem as a player and hasn’t done so with England when in charge of the Under-21s side, whom he guided to the European title in 2023.
“I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game,” Carsley said ahead of the Nations League match in Dublin.
“I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off. I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching.”
“I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries,” he added. “It’s something I am really respectful of.”
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Saturday’s game is a first for England since defeat by Spain in the final of the European Championship in July.
It will also see Declan Rice and Jack Grealish face the country they first represented.
Rice played three times for the Republic of Ireland before switching allegiance while Grealish featured up to Under-21 level before also opting for England.
“We spoke — not only about Jack and Declan — to the whole squad. We spoke about the atmosphere we expect it to be: exciting, passionate, loud,” Carsley said.
“But it will be no different to what the players are used to in Premier League games or high level games. So I think they’ll be ready for whatever comes out.”
England face the Republic of Ireland before hosting Finland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Greece, who travel to Wembley in October, complete League B Group 2.
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(Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)