Carsley ended his six-game tenure as England’s interim manager in the same way he started it, with a comfortable victory over the nation he represented with distinction as a player.
He has had his share of unflattering scrutiny during his spell in charge, particularly regarding his bizarre team selection for the Wembley defeat by Greece in October, then his mixed messaging around whether he wanted the England post or not. But the final two victories – in Athens on Thursday, then this demolition of the Republic at Wembley – means he can reflect on a job well done.
He continued to back his own decisions and was rewarded here, with four players scoring their first England goals, including two from his substitutes Bowen and Harwood-Bellis, who enjoyed a dream moment when he headed England’s fifth.
It made up for a non-event of a first 45 minutes, in which there were no shots on target and both teams were as mediocre as each other.
Kane’s magnificent pass from deep to Bellingham that led to the penalty was the game changer, resulting in a penalty which the captain scored, the Republic also being reduced to 10 men with Scales’ red card.
Carsley will now return to his post as coach of England Under-21s, no doubt with the grateful thanks of the Football Association following the somewhat chaotic background noise in the lead-up to Tuchel’s appointment and, more significantly, with the results than mean the new coach is now spared Nations League play-offs in March.