England's interim manager Lee Carsley has revealed the reason why he doesn't join in with singing the national anthem before games.
This evening (7 September) will see the Three Lions play for the first time under new manager Carsley following Gareth Southgate's decision to quit the role after England's Euro 2024 final defeat.
As the team looks to improve their performance on the international stage, all eyes will be on former Everton midfielder and interim coach Carsley.
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After stepping up from his role as head of the England U-21s, Carsley will have his work cut out for him as he tries to reinvigorate the Three Lions.
England's first test will be a game against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League tonight, but don't expect to see Carsley belt out 'God Save the King' on the touchline before kick-off.
Despite being born in Birmingham, Carsley opted to represent the Republic of Ireland in his international career after qualifying for selection through his grandmother's heritage.
However, Carsley's decision not to sing the national anthem isn't linked to his Ireland career and is instead part of a long-running pre match routine which allows him to 'focus on the game'.
"This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland," the 50-year-old said (via The Guardian) when asked about singing the national anthem.
Explaining that it's a tradition he's said since being a player, Carsley continued: "The gap between your warm-up, your coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done. I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. 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. We had the national anthem with the under-21s also and I am in a zone at that point. I am thinking about how the opposition are going to set up and our first actions within the game."
He then went on to clarify that he has nothing against national anthems being played for both teams, adding: "I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of."
England's run in the Nation's League (League B) group stages will see them take on the likes of Finland and Greece as well as Ireland in their upcoming matches.
The Three Lions will play Finland on 10 September before taking on Greece in the next international break in October.
Topics: Football
Brenna Cooper