Interim boss Lee Carsley signed off in style as England capitalised on Liam Scales’ sending off in a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland that sealed promotion back to the Nations League top tier.

The 17th and final fixture of a year that saw the national team reach another European Championship final marked the end of the Under-21s coach’s six-game stint as Gareth Southgate’s stand-in.

Thomas Tuchel begins his quest to win the 2026 World Cup in the new year and takes over on the back of Nations League elevation after Carsley oversaw a comfortable win against the country he represented as a player.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Ireland had started well and frustrated England in the first half, only to spiral after Scales received his second yellow card for bringing down Jude Bellingham in the box shortly after half-time.

Captain Harry Kane, back in the starting line-up, struck home the resulting penalty, with Anthony Gordon then lashing in and Conor Gallagher scoring from close range just as Group B2 rivals Greece took the lead in Finland.

Substitute Jarrod Bowen netted with his first touch and fellow introduction Taylor Harwood-Bellis completed a dream debut by heading in to wrap up a win that saw Carsley’s men top the pool.

Greece finished level on 15 points but England’s 3-0 win in Athens on Thursday meant they boasted a superior head-to-head record.

Manchester United’s appointment of Ruben Amorim means the current crop of players will be presented with a clean slate to impress and make their mark.

After 11 games, United lurk 13th in the Premier League standings after losing the same amount of times they have won (four). Amorim’s appointment to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag halfway through the season means that the Portuguese must work with what he has got at his disposal, for now.

Much has been made of United and internal problems which seem to continually create issues for their managers. However, if Amorim is to steady the ship and make United great again, he has to get this team firing and – in order to do that – he has to get the best from Marcus Rashford.

The 27-year-old’s long-term issues with form have been well documented in the last 18 months. After scoring 30 goals in 56 games in the 2022/23 season, Rashford has struggled. He managed just eight goals and six assists last term, but has shown signs of bettering that record already this season with four goals and three assists.

One of Amorim’s biggest tasks at Old Trafford will be to get Rashford back to his best. After yet again missing out on a place in the latest England squad, the forward has been in the United States – to watch the NBA in New York.

However, in a wordless post on social media, Rashford has sent a message of confirmation of his hard work and dedication to impress Amorim when first-team training resumes next week.

The United head coach and his team will return to Carrington on Monday to kick-start their preparations for the Premier League clash with Ipswich Town – after being allowed some time off.

United play another 11 times before the end of 2024, a period of games that could be crucial in how their 2024/25 season plays out. If Rashford can find the form of before, Amorim’s start to life in Manchester could go better than expected, and he’s putting in the hard yards to do so.

Manchester Evening

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray inflicted a first Europa League defeat of the season on Tottenham with a 3-2 victory in Istanbul, while Fenerbahçe suffered a 3-1 loss against AZ Alkmaar on Nov. 7.

The Turkish champions have 10 points from four games and have all but secured qualification for at least the knockout play-off round, while Spurs sit in seventh place after losing their 100-percent record.

Galatasaray took an early lead when Yunus Akgün smashed a sensational long-range volley into the top corner in the sixth minute.

Spurs’ teenage striker Will Lankshear equalized, but Galatasaray took control before halftime as Osimhen scored twice in the space of eight minutes.

The Nigerian star fired them back in front just after the half-hour mark before cleverly volleying Dries Mertens’ cross past Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Osimhen has now scored six goals in eight appearances for Galatasaray since joining on loan from Napoli, and his performance against Tottenham was highly praised worldwide.

The home side passed up several opportunities to put the game out of sight for their opponents, but Spurs’ hopes of a comeback were hit when Lankshear was sent off for two yellow-card offenses in quick succession in the second half.

Dominic Solanke pulled one back in the 69th minute, shortly after being brought on by Postecoglou, but Galatasaray held on with relative comfort.

Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk achieved a personal milestone, becoming the Turkish manager with the most wins in the tournament after recording his ninth victory in 16 UEFA Europa League appearances.

AZ Alkmaar beats Fenerbahçe 3-1

In Alkmaar, Fenerbahçe fell to a 3-1 defeat against AZ.

Neither team was able to produce a goal in the first half, but Alkmaar’s Ro-Zangelo Daal scored the opener with a close-range finish in the 59th minute at AFAS Stadion.

After three minutes, Fenerbahce was awarded a penalty after Mees de Wit fouled Edin Dzeko in the box.

However, goalkeeper Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro saved Youssef En-Nesyri’s penalty attempt, keeping the score unchanged.

Fenerbahce leveled the game in the 70th minute when En-Nesyri netted with a header, bringing the match to a 1-1 draw.

AZ Alkmaar took the lead again with Kees Smit in the 75th minute, and Denso Kasius made it 3-1 in the 87th minute.

Fenerbahce is 21st with five points, and AZ Alkmaar is 17th with six points.