When Ireland and England play there's never a shortage of talking points both on and off the pitch and this time is no different.
With former Irish player Lee Carsley taking the English reigns for the first time since Gareth Southgates departure, you could say a trip to Dublin to face Heimir Hallgrímsson's Irish side may not of been at the top of his wishlist.
On what was a grim day for Irish football, the decision of the England manager to sit out the national anthem was welcome sideshow.
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Jamie O'Hara Receives Backlash After Controversial Take On Carsley Anthem Snub
7 September 2024; England interim manager Lee Carsley before the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The overreaction was incredible. Former Spurs player Jamie O'Hara even claimed England interim manager Lee Carsley has 'lost the entire' nation' over his refusal to sing the national anthem.
What’s people take on carsley not wanting to sing the national anthem? that to me is ok cya later then, you’ve just lost the entire nation before you’ve even kicked a ball, thanks for coming Lee 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴 #England
— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1) September 7, 2024
Although the England managers decision has not been received well, O'Hara's take on the situation has been widely criticised.
The majority of fans were not in agreement with the Talksport presenter however, with many pointing out the fact that O'Hara himself has an Irish surname
Interestingly, O'Hara voiced his own regrets that he never played for Ireland.
It's a difficult one. I can see where Declan Rice is coming from. It's the other way round. He's coming back to play for England. I'm not sure if it's a little bit disrespectful.
For a career wise, I wish I'd gone to play for Ireland. I might have played four or five games for them.
Carsley, who was born in Birmingham but represented the Republic of Ireland at senior international level, explained his decision for not singing the singing the National anthem in his pre-match press conference:
The gap between your warm-up, you're 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.
