Lee Carsley made a profitable begin as interim England boss as targets from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish secured a 2-0 victory over Republic of Eire of their Nations League opener.
Rice and Grealish struck within the area of 15 first-half minutes to reply the boos of the house followers on the Aviva Stadium for having switched allegiance from Eire to England as children.
Rice declined to have fun his purpose – slammed house from the centre of the field – however Grealish, again within the workforce after being omitted from the squad for Euro 2024, loved his second having discovered the nook from Rice’s cut-back to cap a slick England transfer.
England followers hoping to see a extra attacking type than below Gareth Southgate may take encouragement from their first-half show, with Harry Kane and the spectacular Anthony Gordon additionally going shut and Trent Alexander-Arnold orchestrating proceedings from right-back.
However Eire, embarking on a brand new period of their very own below new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, confirmed enchancment after the one-sided first interval, with Sammie Szmodics firing a superb probability extensive after the break having been arrange by Chiedozie Ogbene.
England misplaced their rhythm after half-time however did have probabilities to increase their lead, with Bukayo Saka denied by Caoimhin Kelleher in stoppage time, by which level Carsley had additionally handed senior debuts to Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White from the bench.
In the long run, although, the two-goal cushion proved ample for England to start the post-Southgate period with a win that places them prime of Nations League Group B2 having dropped down from League A within the final version of the competitors.
Morgan Gibbs-White featured from the bench
Carsley, a Republic of Eire worldwide throughout his enjoying profession, will hope the end result quietens the pre-match furore over his choice to not sing England’s nationwide anthem.
Grealish: Euros snub motivated me
England’s Jack Grealish advised ITV Sport:
“It meant everything today. Going to the fans at the end, hearing them singing my name and stuff, there’s no better feeling than playing for England, especially in games like this where you know the whole nation is watching you.
Jack Grealish doubled England’s lead towards Republic of Eire
“It was one of the worst summers of my life, because you can’t not see everything happening in front of you. It was difficult, but it’s given me more motivation to bounce back.
“[The reception] is what me and Dec[lan] Rice anticipated. I stated earlier than the sport, it is completely different; we’ve nothing dangerous to say.
“We both enjoyed our time playing here, I have a lot of Irish in my family. There’s no bad blood whatsoever from my side.
“Clearly, going again to myself – I would like to start out enjoying repeatedly and scoring targets, and that is what I did at this time. I did not really feel 100 per cent match, match, however I am glad.”
Keane: England good first half but awful second
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane on ITV Sport:
“The irritating factor for at this time is Eire had been there for the taking.
“England dominated the first half – we praised their decision-making, quality and movement.
“It was the alternative within the second; they had been terrible within the second half. They had been doing it for themselves, taking too many touches, making an attempt to play Roy of the Rovers passes.
“Ireland played with a lot of pride in the second half, but as good as England were in the first half, they were as bad in the second half.
“Even with the substitutions, gamers had been strolling off, exhibiting a little bit of conceitedness.
“There’s a team there for the taking – especially with the attacking players on the pitch, they should be thinking they had a chance to score a goal.”
