Lee Carsley made a successful begin as interim England boss as objectives 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 house 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 rejoice his objective – slammed residence from the centre of the field – however Grealish, again within the staff 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 model than underneath 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 underneath new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, confirmed enchancment after the one-sided first interval, with Sammie Szmodics firing a great likelihood huge 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 adequate for England to start the post-Southgate period with a win which places them prime of Nations League Group B2 having dropped down from League A within the final version of the competitors.
Jack Grealish doubles England’s lead towards Republic of Eire
Carsley, a Republic of Eire worldwide throughout his enjoying profession, will hope the outcome quietens the pre-match furore over his resolution to not sing England’s nationwide anthem.
