Republic of Ireland vs England LIVE: Nations League result and final score as Lee Carsley makes winning start
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England: Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were unpopular goalscorers in Dublin in an impressive first-half display under Carsley
England made a winning start under interim boss Lee Carsley as Declan Rice and Jack Grealish scored against the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League opener in Dublin.
In England’s first match since the Euro 2024 final, marking the start of the new era after Gareth Southgate’s resignation, the Three Lions made a confident start in a fiery atmosphere and took a deserved lead through goals from players who made unpopular returns to the Aviva. Rice and Grealish, having represented Ireland at youth level, were booed by the home crowd but struck against them within the opening 26 minutes.
Grealish’s second goal, set up by Rice, came from a flowing England move that summed up their impressive first-half display under Carsley. However, England lost their rhythm after the break as Ireland grew into the contest, in what could have been a tribute act to some of Southgate’s former side’s performances at the recent European Championships.
The visitors, though, were largely untroubled by a limited Ireland side and there were opportunities for Morgan Gibbs-White and Angel Gomes to make their England debuts late on. Follow all the rection and analysis from England’s win over Republic of Ireland in the Nations League
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
36 mins
No out-ball for Ireland at the moment, though Ogbene is trying his best.
Alexander-Arnold clips a ball over the top to Declan Rice and it results in another England corner.
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
33 mins
Another promising England attack as Grealish slides it through to Kane. He’s tackled but it runs to Gordon, whose shot is blocked at the last and runs to Kelleher.
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
31 mins
England are totally dominant now, with Ireland struggling to get out of there own half in the last five minutes.
The movement of Grealish and Alexander-Arnold – with the latter floating into the central areas when the ball is on the left wing, and providing width when on the right – has certainly helped England in attack.
Ogbene beats his man and delivers a cross, but Idah can only head over.
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
Have a look at this from England. Lovely stuff.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
26 mins
GOAL! And so completes the Irish nightmare.
And it’s one of England’s most brilliant goals in years.
One-touch football all round as Rice and Mainoo exchange passes, with the Arsenal man overlapping and playing another one-two, this time with Saka, before breaking free into the box and sliding a cutback across to Grealish, who sweeps it into the opposite corner for 2-0.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 England
26 mins
Saka beats Brady on the wing but his cutback is cut out. No problem though, as England regain possession quickly.
23 mins
Ireland have started quite positively, with their forwards showing some nice movement on the counter, but they’ve just lacked that final bit of quality that England certainly do have.
Ireland are sitting back a little more now, opting not to apply pressure when England have it around halfway.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 England
21 mins
Gordon has provided plenty of threat in the first 20 minutes, and has been England main attacking outlet. Very useful when countering – that will only add to the questioning of why he was used so sparingly at Euro 2024.
Levi Colwill has been solid at left-back in the opening stages too.
Ireland try to launch a counter but Ogbene’s pass is easily cut out.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 England
19 mins
Declan Rice didn’t celebrate when he scored, so you’d imagine that that’ll provoke some interesting reaction.
England are enjoying plenty of possession now, and they look very comfortable.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 England
15 mins
It’s all happening now. Ireland break and Mainoo’s foul gives them a dangerous free-kick. It’s hit right against the wall though, and England break led by Rice.
He threads it to the overlapping Gordon, whose cutback is met by Kane, but Kelleher is equal to it.
Mainoo is the first to be booked, for that earlier challenge.
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