England v Ireland LIVE: Nations League result as Taylor Harwood-Bellis scores on debut in thrashing

Sir Alf Ramsey remains the only England manger to win a World Cup, a status he may retain for another few decades, but Lee Carsley can bow out as the interim with a unique distinction of his own. Carsley is the only England manager to win promotion. And if that reflects both the newness of the Nations League and the reality that, in an otherwise successful reign, Gareth Southgate contrived to get relegated, Carsley has at least spared Thomas Tuchel a play-off in his first fixtures and can step down with an 83 per cent win rate. This was the most emphatic. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder oversaw England’s biggest victory over the country he represented 40 times.

Ireland were beaten in the space of eight minutes, when their earlier obduracy became irrelevant as they were reduced to 10 men and conceded three times. Uninspired before the break, Carsley’s team then showed a ruthlessness to capitalise as Ireland capitulated. A November of 3-0 and 5-0 wins, even as the number of withdrawals entered double figures, has been a personal triumph.

For Harry Kane, it has been an international break with a difference but it brought a successful end. Dropped for the Greece game, crowded out and frustrated in a first half when he got a booking for wrestling with Jayson Molumbuy, he fashioned the opener with a wonderful pass and scored it from the penalty spot. This, he may have pointed out to the players who stayed away, is the reward for reporting for England duty.

John McGinn came off the bench to end Scotland’s 10-game run without a competitive victory by firing an 86th-minute winner against 10-man Croatia.

Scotland had struggled to make the most of their numerical advantage after Petar Sucic was sent off in the 44th minute.

Croatia had looked the more threatening side in the first half and still managed to create the best chances after the break before the ball fell for McGinn 12 yards out after the Croatia goalkeeper could only Ben Doak’s ambitious effort into his path.

England do not yet know their next match, as it will be a World Cup qualifier in March 2025. The groups for that qualification process will be drawn in December, so Thomas Tuchel will have a watchful eye on that draw.

In Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, four players scored their first ever England goal in the same game for the first time since October 1930 against Northern Ireland.

Speaking to ITV, Lee Carsley says that “it was a good performance”.

‘I thought the way we started the game was good and we played with real intensity. It was frustrating to come off 0-0 at half-time but I had the belief that we would score the goals.

“It was a great evening for a lot of players and the main thing was getting promotion. That was the main thing we said we wanted to do so that was pleasing.”

“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking. I see them day in day out on the training ground and now we’ve seen it.

“I can only do what I was in control of. It’s not a gamble with some of these players, they are excellent players, they want to overcome anything in front of them and at the under-21s they have had an expectation of winning.

“It [his spell in charge] has given myself and the staff the confidence that we can do the job. You always doubt whether you can do the job, and there’s a lot of people in their homes picking the squad and picking the team.

“The trust from my bosses has been a massive boost of confidence.”

Harry Kane tells ITV that today’s result was “really important” for England.

“It has been a really good camp and two tough games. We got the job done in Greece and again here.

“It was a tough first half but we came out with more energy and we finished it off.

“We spoke about new opportunities for new lads and they’ve shown why they are here and a couple of good finishes. It was nice for Jarrod [Bowen] too to come on and score straight away.

“Thomas [Tuchel] has a lot of players to choose from. A lot of young players that have come in and done well and some more experienced players that are injured and will be looking to come back, so there’s a good balance.

I’m sure he [Tuchel] will be looking at everyone.”

On Lee Carsley’s impact as interim boss, Kane adds: “He has been top drawer, him and all the staff. After the Euros it was never going to be easy to come and go straight into the Nations League and sometimes the motivation is a bit less.

“I’m really glad we won today and finish off on a high.”

That result means England win their group and get automatically promoted to the ‘A’ leagues. They’ve avoided a play-off in March, too.

The next time we see the Three Lions, it’ll be with Thomas Tuchel in charge.

The referee brings the game to an end and England are promoted back to the ‘A’ leagues in the Nations League.

It wasn’t pretty in the first half but some brilliance from Kane and Bellingham – as well as a red card for Ireland – unlocked the door to an easy win.

England win a corner and it’s played short to Gomes, who lays it off to Bowen, and the winger drives a shot wide from distance.