Lee Carsley says he will not sing the national anthem ahead of England’s game with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and intends instead to be “focused on the football”.
Carsley has been 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 national anthem as a player and did not do so with England when he was in charge of the under-21 side he led to the European title in 2023.
“I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game,” said Carsley ahead of the Nations League match in Dublin.
“I really found that in that period I was careful about my mind wandering. I was really focused on the football and I took that into training.”
“I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries,” he added. “It’s something I’m really in awe of.”
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Saturday’s game is England’s first since defeat by Spain in the European Championship final 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 choosing England.
“We spoke – not just about Jack and Declan – to the whole squad. We talked about the atmosphere we expect it to be: exciting, passionate, loud,” Carsley said.
“But it won’t be any different to what the players are used to in Premier League games or top level games. So I think they will be ready for whatever comes up.”
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)
