Lee Carsley heads into Sunday's Nations League tie against Finland in Helsinki, with serious doubts over whether he wants the England manager's job on a permanent basis.
The 50-year-old has been in charge of the under-21s until November on an interim basis and will feature in all six of the senior's Nations League group games. Ireland won against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and Finland at Wembley in September before a confusing home loss to Greece on Thursday.
Despite being questioned about his desires and intentions to follow Gareth Southgate on a full-time basis and lead the country in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, he has tried to focus fully on the six matches.
The Football Association said it was overseeing a confidential process to appoint the next permanent manager. They gave no indication of its progress.
Carsley tied himself in a few knots after the Greece defeat when he said he would “hopefully go back to the Under-21s” after his interim stint ends. Carsley was asked to clarify the comment at a pre-match press conference in Helsinki on Saturday night.
“Circle is a word and a phrase I use quite a bit,” he said. “There are no guarantees in life, including tomorrow [against Finland]. It's under 21s that I'm very proud of and invested heavily in. But I know there are no guarantees. The plan is to give this work to three camps, and I hope that the best I can do with the rest of the staff, we can be in good shape.
Carsley was asked if he was ready for the permanent job after the home win against Finland. “Am I up for it … I think I am for it,” he replied after a pause and not entirely convinced.
Criticism was harsh after a formless display against Greece when he played out of position as a No 9, giving way to attacking midfielders and showing a lack of cohesion and defensive consistency in the team. The mood around Carsley changed, with an explanation he contributed to the British press in Helsinki.
Carsley's permanent job was thought to have been defeated after the win in September. But when he spoke to the press, he sounded like the development coach he's always been; Look for new angles with players who want to push them. He sounded like he was indeed ready for a return to the Under-21s.
“The last thing that mattered to me in this whole process was me,” Carsley said. “The reason I believe I've done well in training is because people know it's not about me. It's about the players, the environment, the culture. If I try something else, they can see that I'm trying to get the best out of the team or the individual.
“I didn't see it as an audition or my biggest opportunity. I see it as a privilege, an incredible responsibility. I have three games left. I want to make sure that the team is in very good shape and that we have seen different players play at different levels.
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“There was probably a reason in the past that I resisted going into senior football and going and managing at club level. Because I really enjoy this side of the game in terms of the development of the players and the journey they go on. So I tried to rid myself of the feeling that 'losing and gaining is my job'.
Carsley also told Talk Sport that he had not made a formal application for a permanent England role. “No, I didn't formally apply for it,” he said, adding it was one of the best jobs in world football. “I believe the incoming coach has a good chance to win and we deserve the best coach out there.”
Since 1966, when England won the World Cup – their only major men's trophy – not enough for everyone to aspire to, Carsley spoke at length about the need to try different things during his tenure.
His immediate priority, however, is to get a reaction from Greece's defeat against Finland. The good news is that captain Harry Kane is back to fitness; He missed out against Greece with a groin problem. Jack Grealish is also available after a little trouble. The Bukayo counterpart did not travel after coming off against Greece with a hamstring complaint.
“When we get something good in front of us, we're always looking for the next big thing,” Carsley said. “We have to appreciate what's in front of us with Harry. Is he still irreplaceable? He has proven it through his impact in the past.
