Lee Carsley lets England players make all right noises in smooth audition | Jacob Steinberg

In Dublin, at 4:59pm, a shocking moment occurred. It will be etched in everyone's memory - the day Lee Carsley, representing Birmingham, refused to join in a song before guiding England to a simple 2-0 victory against the Republic of Ireland in the 2024 Nations League.

Have you ever experienced such a disappointing win? The skillful passes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, the impressive dribbling of Jack Grealish, and the cohesive play of the England team suddenly felt insignificant in comparison to the embarrassment of Carsley.

How can progress be made for the country when the leader of its football team openly refuses to even pretend to sing along to the national anthem?

Once again, the never-ending nonsensical circus that enjoys using English football to stir up controversy has outdone itself. Following the same pattern as before - from the controversy over taking the knee to the backlash over the inclusive rainbow kit - it was truly astonishing to see the anger escalate to the point where an article suggested that the Football Association should fire Carsley right before the game at the Aviva Stadium.

It is true that this situation could have been prevented if there was better planning ahead. Carsley, a past player for Ireland, should have anticipated the negative reactions that would follow. The interesting part is that by focusing solely on football - Carsley's argument is that he is always too engrossed in the tactical aspects to take a moment to participate in singing the anthem - he made himself vulnerable to criticism.

Even though Southgate's handling of off-field matters was impressive during his time as manager, some may argue that the primary focus should be on football. Despite the passion for the Three Lions, it was clear that skillful players like Italy's Andrea Pirlo outshined England's midfield in 2012 and 2014.

Certainly, the atmosphere and mentality are important, especially since players used to feel the pressure of wearing the England shirt. In his debut game as the new coach, Carsley's only mistake was initially going towards the incorrect team bench after entering the field before the match started. However, other than that, the former Everton midfielder exuded nothing but composure.

Carsley, the coach who led England's Under-21 team to victory at the European Championships last year, wasted no time in making changes to the team. He decided to focus on developing young players who are familiar with his coaching style, which was a clever and ambitious decision. By giving Alexander-Arnold his first start at right-back in an international match in four years, Carsley showed the direction he wants the team to take in the future.

Ireland struggled to handle Alexander-Arnold, who never found his place under Southgate. He immediately started creating chances, sending a cross that Harry Kane missed with a header, and played a crucial part in England's first goal. It was difficult to picture anyone else on the field making the precise pass that sliced through Ireland's defense, setting up Anthony Gordon to charge forward and Declan Rice to score from close range.

In the beginning of the game, Ireland put pressure on England. However, England showed that they had improved from their performance in the Euros by skillfully maneuvering through Ireland's defense using some clever passing patterns. Levi Colwill played a key role in maintaining balance on the left side of the field. As a result, England was able to play out of trouble and take advantage of Ireland's weaknesses in defense.

Rice wanted to impress the audience who were still upset about him leaving Ireland, and he played really well with Mainoo. Gordon, who was not chosen by Southgate last summer despite England needing more width on the left, helped to open up the game.

The team's offensive strategy was well-balanced. Grealish, who had not played in the Euros, thrived in his new role as the No. 10. His skillful ability to escape tight spots was a pleasure to watch, and his talent for keeping possession was a valuable asset for the national team. England focused on letting the ball do the work, leading to a beautifully executed second goal by Grealish after a series of quick passes.

Alexander-Arnold showing his versatility by playing in both defense and midfield caused confusion for Ireland. This is a positive step for England, but it is important to note that the teams in Nations League B2 are not the strongest, so it is hard to truly judge Carsley's abilities compared to other potential candidates. Despite facing challenges, Carsley can feel proud of his performance on the field after being exposed to the tough nature of the job.