England ended their Nations League campaign on a high note with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley, securing promotion to League A and bringing Lee Carsley’s tenure as interim head coach to a successful close.Carsley, who stepped up to lead the senior team after Gareth Southgate’s resignation in July, wrapped up his six-match stint with five wins and one defeat.

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Reflecting on the match, he spoke of his relief at guiding England back to the top tier of the Nations League.“I definitely felt like I have been out of my comfort zone but not beyond my capabilities,” Carsley said. “I never felt at any point I was drowning or I was struggling. I’ve taken the confidence that myself and the rest of the staff will be OK. I think we have got stronger as the [international] windows have gone on.

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”The emphatic win also marked Carsley’s farewell to the senior side as Thomas Tuchel prepares to take over as England’s head coach on January 1.

sole loss came in October against Greece, a result he admitted still stings. "I’m still gutted about the Greece game at home,” he said. “Even though we won five of the six, I straight away go back to that game we should have won

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at Wembley. It’s definitely a lonely place in that dugout when you’re not winning at Wembley.”Despite the setback, Carsley found positives in his tenure, including the integration of younger players. He handed debuts to eight players and fielded seven from the starting lineup that won the European Under-21 Championship under his guidance in 2023."We have tried to change things," Carsley noted.

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"We have tried to adapt and move on the style, the way that we play, the control, the amount of possession we have, the amount of chances we create. There has been no resistance to that. If anything, they have taken that on."

also praised the team’s resilience and energy in the final match. “I spoke to the players at half-time at 0-0 and I was really happy with the way the crowd

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responded to the players as they went off the pitch. I said, ‘We’re going to score. I’ve got total belief that you are going to score, so just keep going.’ It was pleasing to get five goals."The promotion to League A means Tuchel will have a smoother start, focusing on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers without the distraction of Nations League playoffs. For Carsley, the journey has been a challenging but fulfilling experience.

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“It’d be fair to say there’s a bit of relief,” he admitted. “It’s good that we’ve finished the campaign with such a strong performance."

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