England’s interim manager Lee Carsley has intimated that he will not be singing the national anthem as his team takes on Ireland in the Nations League in Dublin today – his first game in charge. Carsley is at least being consistent in this, he similarly demurred as a player for Ireland and when he was England’s under-21 coach. This clearly isn’t just an aversion to the admittedly dirge-like ‘God Save the King’. But whether he joins in with his team today is a bit more of an issue.
Carsley has defended his career long anthem-phobia, saying he needs to ‘focus’ on the game ahead, and maintain his concentration. The Birmingham-born coach, who won 40 caps for Ireland and played for six English clubs before his stint with the under-21s, said that he respects the anthem but in his previous jobs was always ‘wary’ about his mind ‘wandering off’ in the build up to kick-off. ‘I was really focused on to the football and I have taken that into coaching’ he said.
No one is suggesting that Carsley intends any disrespect, but as an explanation, this is surely a little weak. Is it too much to ask to belt out a few verses of ‘God Save the King’ (the ailing King let’s remember) as all the previous incumbents of the England hot seat, with the exception of the monolingual Fabio Capello, have done? Would it really break the England coach’s zen like concentration and throw him off his game? And how much ‘focus’ does a manager, largely impotent in the moments before kick-off, actually need?
Admittedly, not every England player has sung the anthem (Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville chose not to for a while). But many players would say that rather than being a distraction, singing the anthem actually helps them, and fosters a sense of unity and belonging to boot. And as for distractions, what could be more unsettling for players than being expected to sing but seeing their manager apparently not bothering? It will surely do nothing for the harmony and shared purpose a team needs.
What Carsley doesn’t seem to appreciate is that what makes international football interesting and important is that it retains a powerful element of extra-sporting cultural significance, which is manifested, and to an extent maintained, by the small rituals associated with it. This is particularly the case for the singing of the anthem, the one moment in the game when supporters and players can be entirely as one.
Even people who hate football get drawn into the big international tournaments. They serve as a unifying societal force in a way the Premiership or Champions League, though probably at a higher level of technical excellence, come nowhere near to achieving. As an example of this power, anyone who watched the entire Scotland squad, plus coaching staff, and nearly 50,000 Scottish fans at Hampden on Thursday night giving ‘Flower of Scotland’ ‘laldy’ (as they say up north) would surely have been impressed by the passion, and the apolitical and benign expression of nationalism it exhibited. These pre-match rituals may seem small but they do matter – significantly more I’d argue than Nations League points.
It would be sad as well to see all the etiquette and traditions of sport – like curtseying to the royal box at Wimbledon, the exchange of pennants, or (at a lower level) singing three cheers for the opposition at the end of the game – completely disappear. They are, if nothing else, useful reminders that we are watching a game, and that there are more important things in life.
Some would say that at least Carsley is being honest, which is perhaps preferable to just going along with something he doesn’t really believe in and mumbling through the anthem, while staring uncomfortably at his boots, simply to avoid controversy. But if he really doesn’t care that much about the anthem, and thus the cultural and traditional aspects of his position, is he really the man for this particular job?
Carsley’s silence this evening, unless he changes his mind, will contrast with Gareth Southgate who belted out the anthem lustily. And possibly with Ireland’s Icelandic manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, who mastered the Jamaican national anthem (‘Jamaica , Land We Love’) in his previous job. Hallgrimson is expected to gamely attempt ‘Amhran na bhFiann’ tonight.
On the other hand, if Carsley’s team make a similarly distinct contrast with the Southgate era by playing confidently and positively and winning in style, anthem-gate may be relegated to a side issue by some of the success starved England faithful. Though not perhaps, by everyone – a whopping 77 per cent of Daily Telegraph readers think players and managers should sing the anthem. These things evidently do still matter, to quite a lot of people.
Lee Carsley, ahead of his debut as England manager, has revealed he plans to refrain from singing 'God Save the King', stating that it's a personal choice unrelated to his time representing the Republic of Ireland.
The interim boss made it clear his decision is based on a long-standing practice of not singing national anthems prior to kick-off throughout his playing and coaching career. He highlights that his approach should not be taken as an affront; its just how he maintains focus before a game.
While this stance may ruffle some feathers among England supporters who expect traditional displays of patriotism, Carsley maintains that deep in preparation mode, he prefers to stay "in the zone" rather than partake in the anthem.
Born in Birmingham with Irish roots through his grandmother, Carsley, who played for the Irish, also noted that even when managing the England under-21 squad whom he led to victory in the European Championships he did not sing the anthem.
Carsley explained his viewpoint further: "This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland. The gap between your warm up, you 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," reports the Mirror.
"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 gonna set up and our first actions within the game. I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It's something I am really respectful of."
When asked if he would consider singing the anthem, Carsley was clear in his response, stating he would not. This stance has sparked varied reactions from fans and pundits on social media and television.
One social media user expressed indifference: "Who cares. So long as Lee Carsley performs in his job as the manager."
Another echoed this sentiment, saying: "It really doesn't matter if he sings it! " Many others agreed that his singing is irrelevant to his coaching abilities.
However, a Daily Mail opinion piece took a harsher view, arguing that Carsley "should be sacked by the FA today. His refusal to sing the national anthem is a betrayal and he's not fit to be England manager."
The fact that Carsley does not sing the anthem has indeed caused upset among some, with one person pointing out: "Sven Goran-Eriksson sung the national anthem and he wasn't even from our country. I don't care if Lee Carsley played for Ireland, but if there's a political reason you he won't sing the national anthem then he should quit."
Kelvin Mackenzie took to social media to voice his strong opinions, stating: "With some old cobblers about wanting to focus on the game, Birmingham-born but capped by Ireland l, the new England football manager Lee Carsley explains he won't be singing the national anthem at our international with Ireland tonight. England cannot have a British born manager who doesn't sing our anthem. It's as simple as that. An insult to many and will become a major distraction . Thank you for your service Mr Carsley and goodnight. God Save The King."
The public's reaction has been deeply divided on the issue, with some seeing no problem, while others, dubbing themselves 'patriots', demand Carsley's dismissal even if the England team secures a 4-0 win over Ireland in Dublin. On the field, Carsley is poised to restore Harry Maguire to the starting eleven after Maguire was not selected for Euro 2024.
Lee Carsley praised Harry Maguire's professionalism, saying: "He's a leader. He leads by example in terms of his preparation on and off the pitch. Obviously his quality is there to see as well when we do our sessions, so that's what I'm expecting to see. In the games that I've seen him play, I think he's got stronger as the games have gone on. Also, obviously, he didn't play in Manchester United's last game, but he's come into camp physically very, very good. And mentally, yeah, he's been good on and off the pitch I felt. What I want we've already had in terms of the way he's been around the squad, what I expected."
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was previously experimented with in midfield during the Euros under Gareth Southgate, is expected to start at right-back. Jack Grealish, formerly of Ireland's Under-21s, is also anticipated to be selected for the midfield.
England are preparing for nearly 3,000 fans to fill the Aviva Stadium for their Nations League face-off with Republic of Ireland on Saturday. Police and FA chiefs have not issued any special directives to England supporters, emphasising their trust in them to refrain from singing provocative chants during or before the game.
