Lee Carsley, the caretaker manager of England’s men’s national team, has expressed his ambition to help the Three Lions break their 60-year trophy drought. Carsley was promoted from his role as England Under-21 manager last week, stepping into the temporary role following Gareth Southgate’s resignation. Southgate stepped down after eight years in charge, a period marked by significant progress but ultimately defined by the agonizing near-misses of consecutive Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 final losses.
The next chance for England to end their decades-long wait for a major trophy will be the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that Carsley could potentially lead the team into. He is set to oversee England’s upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, and could potentially lead the team in other matches throughout the competition.
Despite the pressure and expectations, Carsley is confident in England’s potential. “I think we’ve got some outstanding players in the senior team and in the pathway. I think the level of player over the last few years has really improved,” he stated. “You can see that by the way that we’ve done in major tournaments. Obviously that next step is winning, and that’s got to be the objective. It’s testament to (Southgate) and the staff that they’re getting to back-to-back finals, which isn’t easy. Now, obviously the last bit is going that extra mile and winning. I think we’ve got the players to do that.”
Carsley, who guided the Under-21s to European Championship glory last year, is set to name his squad for the September matches on August 29. His appointment marks a new chapter for England, one that he hopes will ultimately lead to the nation’s long-awaited triumph on the international stage.
