New Delhi: England players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were met with boos by the Republic of Ireland fans during their UEFA Nations League match on September 7. Both former Ireland players responded well to the jeers with each scoring a goal in the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory at Aviva Stadium. This marked Lee Carsley’s debut as England’s senior national team interim manager after taking over following Euro 2024.
England have begun the new era on a positive note after finishing second behind Spain in Euro 2024 and Gareth Southgate’s resignation. Lee Carsely chose Jack Grealish in the starting XI for the game after the 28-year-old Manchester City man had been dropped from the squad for the Euros. Arsenal man Declan Rice was also selected for the starting line-up as the midfield anchor.
The Irish fan’s hostility stemmed from Rice and Grealish’s decision to switch allegiances to England after previously playing for Ireland. The banner in the crowd that read “The snakes are back” symbolized the fans’ disappointment over their departures.
The Premier League stars are referred to as snakes because of their tie to the Irish national team. Both players were born in England but were eligible to represent Ireland’s side. Declan Rice has made three appearances for the Ireland side before opting to represent England. In the Three Lions squad he has made a mark for himself. In fact he has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe today.
Jack Grealish has also played for Ireland at youth level and chose to pursue a career with England. Even back in 2021, he became the British record signing when he joined Manchester City for $139 million.
How Declan Rice and Jack Grealish lead the England side to win over Ireland?
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish helped the Three Lions kick off their campaign to a flying start. Declan Rice opened the scoring line in the 11th minute but he didn’t celebrate his goal as a mark of respect to the country of his grandparents.
Grealish added the second goal 15 minutes later, doubling the Three Lions’ lead and effectively sealing the win. He did celebrate but later said he had ‘nothing bad to say’ about the Ireland fans.
As England looks ahead to their next match against Finland, both Rice and Grealish will likely continue to play pivotal roles in Lee Carsley’s new-look side as they aim to build on their promising start.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish faced boos from Irish fans but responded with key goals in England’s 2-0 win. Discover how they led the Three Lions to victory. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
