Lee Carsley made a winning start as interim England boss as goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish secured a 2-0 victory over Republic of Ireland in their Nations League opener.
Rice and Grealish struck in the space of 15 first-half minutes to answer the boos of the home fans at the Aviva Stadium for having switched allegiance from Ireland to England as youngsters.
Rice declined to celebrate his goal – slammed home from the centre of the box – but Grealish, back in the team after being omitted from the squad for Euro 2024, enjoyed his moment having found the corner from Rice’s cut-back to cap a slick England move.
England fans hoping to see a more attacking style than under Gareth Southgate could take encouragement from their first-half display, with Harry Kane and the impressive Anthony Gordon also going close and Trent Alexander-Arnold orchestrating proceedings from right-back.
Declan Rice gives England a first-half lead against Republic of Ireland
But Ireland, embarking on a new era of their own under new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, showed improvement after the one-sided first period, with Sammie Szmodics firing a good chance wide after the break having been set up by Chiedozie Ogbene.
England lost their rhythm after half-time but did have chances to extend their lead, with Bukayo Saka denied by Caoimhin Kelleher in stoppage time, by which point Carsley had also handed senior debuts to Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White from the bench.
In the end, though, the two-goal cushion proved sufficient for England to begin the post-Southgate era with a win which puts them top of Nations League Group B2 having dropped down from League A in the last edition of the competition.
Jack Grealish doubles England’s lead against Republic of Ireland
Carsley, a Republic of Ireland international during his playing career, will hope the result quietens the pre-match furore over his decision not to sing England’s national anthem.
