Jim Crawford reveals what Lee Carsley said about his Ireland Under-21 players when he watched them during the summer
The England manager briefly played with Ireland Under-21 boss Jim Crawford in the early 1990s
Ireland Under-21 manager Jim Crawford has revealed what England interim manager Lee Carsley said about the young Boys in Green outfit.
Carsley was in Croatia in June to watch England’s Under-20s draw 2-2 with Crawford’s Under-21s, just days after the Irish youngsters secured a 3-2 win over the hosts in Zagreb.
It was two months before former Ireland midfielder Carsley’s elevation to senior interim boss, so he was there with his England Under-21 hat on.
READ MORE:Lee Carsley opens up on the nature and timing of talks with the FAI
And according to Crawford, who briefly played Under-21 international football with Carsley, he was generous in his praise of the Irish side.
“I met him at the game when we played England’s 20s, so I met him afterwards and he was very complimentary towards the 21s,” said Crawford.
“He was complimentary in terms of the way we played and certain individuals, look, I don’t want to name them, but he was quite complimentary, which I was delighted with.
“Obviously he knew nothing about his next steps (to taking the interim senior job). But Lee is a good guy and I wish him well for his other group games, but certainly not here or at Wembley.”
Crawford reckons Carsley is a good pick by the English FA.
“He is very calm and considerate. Both of us were in the 21s at the time, so I played with him. He is a nice guy,” said the Ireland boss.
“You can see the work he has done at 21s level. To win a European final is no easy feat. He has certainly worked hard at the role and I am delighted for him.”
Ireland’s Under-21s are in Euro 2025 qualification action next Friday away to Turkey and then at home to Latvia in Tallaght four days later.
Crawford will be keeping an eye on the England game on Saturday at the Aviva when he gets back from Istanbul with his squad.
“I think we can (get at England),” he said. “I think Lee has brought in a few 21s players too, so he is certainly dipping into that pool.
“But I think, why not? John and Heimir certainly won’t be sitting back and surviving during the game, they’ll want to go on a real front-foot approach to the game.
“We get back late-Saturday afternoon, so I’m sure the players will be desperate to get back to the hotel and watch that game.”
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