England started their Nations League campaign with a solid 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
In Lee Carsley’s first match as interim manager, Rice scored the opener in the first half after the home fans at the Aviva Stadium voiced their discontent over having switched allegiance from Ireland to England. Rice chose not to celebrate his goal, which he scored with a powerful finish, while Grealish netted the second after an impressive set-up from Rice.
England fans were hopeful for a more attacking approach compared to Gareth Southgate’s style, and they saw glimpses of that in the first half, with Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon also threatening. Meanwhile, Ireland, under new coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, showed some improvement after a one-sided opening period, though Sammie Szmodics wasted a good chance after the break.
Despite a second-half dip in form, England had opportunities to expand their lead, including a late chance for Bukayo Saka, but the two-goal advantage proved sufficient for the win, putting England at the top of Nations League Group B2 after dropping down from League A in the last edition.
Post-Match Reactions
Grealish spoke to ITV Sport, expressing how much the victory meant to him and the fans: “There’s no better feeling than playing for England, especially in a game like this. It was a tough summer for me, but I’m using that as motivation.”
Carsley praised the performance of Rice and Grealish, stating, “They both scored well-worked goals. Jack doesn’t have anything to prove; we see his quality. We need to stay focused and improve as we move forward.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the win, there is still work to be done as England prepares for upcoming matches against Finland. The players remain motivated to build on their success and improve for the future.
Credit: Sky Sports
