Ireland 0 England 2 FT: Nations League as it happened

Here is Gavin Cummiskey’s match report. “Write the worst script imaginable for the Republic of Ireland versus England in Dublin.” And it happened.
[ Rice and Grealish on target as England deliver on nightmare script against IrelandOpens in new window ]
That’s all from me for today! Good evening.
Here are the match ratings by Malachy Clerkin, Kelleher gets praise, Brady and Doherty not so much. Check them out:
[ Ireland v England: How the Irish players rated at the AvivaOpens in new window ]
Here were the goals again, in case you missed them:
Two good saves to finish from Kelleher from Saka and Bowen. He’s had a good day has Kelleher, despite the result.
Full-time: Ireland 0 England 2
Can’t complain with that result then. England dominant winners over Ireland, as you might expect given the gulf in quality between the teams.
90 mins: Five minutes of additional player. A deep cross by Ogbene and McAteer falls looking for a penalty but would have been soft and ref waves away.
Ireland 0 England 2
88 mins: First England shot for a while as Kelleher makes a smart save. Rice seemed to pull something there after turning away from an Ireland player yet again, although he’s back moving again and gets the ball on the edge of the box. Eventually Eze hits wide.
Ireland 0 England 2
85 mins: McAteer leaves one in on Kane and then he’s taken off for Jarrod Bowen. Then Maguire is taken off for Stones. 50,359 is the attendance at the Aviva.
Ireland 0 England 2
82 mins: Good action from sub McAteer as he puts in a dangerous cross from the byline that is just about dealt with by England. Now on comes Evan Ferguson for Brady for a big cheer.
Ireland 0 England 2
76 mins: Ogbene with a nice touch but Molumby is too slow to get his head up and his cross is blocked, O’Brien then picks up a yellow card from the rebound. Jack Grealish is taken off to loud boos, Gibbs-White on. Mainoo taken off as well for Angel Gomes, and Gordon off for Eze.
Ireland 0 England 2
74 mins: Another sub for Ireland, Smallbone taken off for Alan Browne. Kasey McAteer on for his debut in place of Adam Idah.
Ireland 0 England 2
68 mins: Yellow card for Brady after he’s rinsed by Saka. Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick is straight into the keeper’s hands though. England win it again quickly afterwards and Gordon gets a shot off but straight at Kelleher.
Ireland 0 England 2
64 mins: A lazy pass by Alexander-Arnold gave it to Szmodics on the edge of the box but a poor touch by the Ipswich forward and misplaced cross gave away the chance. Disappointing.
Ireland 0 England 2
62 mins: Another half-chance for Ireland. Molumby blazes over after Ogbene won the ball on the right and passed by Szmodics on the edge of the box. Should have done better.
Ireland 0 England 2
59 mins: Chance for Ireland! Ipswich duo Szmodics and Ogbene combine. Ogbene collects crossfield ball on the wing and cuts back to Szmodics at the edge of the box. The shot is just wide of the post. Better from Ireland.
Ireland 0 England 2
57 mins: An injury break for Séamus Coleman and Jake O’Brien is warming up. That substitution happens now. Also Matt Doherty taken off for Jason Knight.
Ireland 0 England 2
52 mins: Some nice interchange from England, Mainoo is passing through and breaking the lines again and again, Rice driving at the defence. Crowd lets out a yell of frustration as Ireland can’t get the ball.
Ireland 0 England 2
47 mins: Second half and early corner for England, seemed like Maguire was bundled over but nothing from the referee.
Ireland 0 England 2
HALF-TIME: Ireland 0 England 2
Ireland well off the pace here, England impressive in Carsley’s first game. Rice and Grealish scoring was quite the story for the narrative, in reality England could have had a few more. Big improvement needed from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team in the second half.
That Grealish goal again:
44 mins: Counter attack for Ireland and first time with a bit of space to run into for Ogbene. He does well to get near the byline but his cross is well overhit.
Yellow card for Szmodics for a hefty challenge on Gordon.
Ireland 0 England 2
42 mins: Smallbone wins the ball in midfield and Idah plays to Ogbene. He’s hounded out of it, lays off Molumby but then Brady loses it and Grealish runs through with no pressure. Passes to Kane and Coleman gets a good block in from 10 yards out.
Ireland 0 England 2
33 mins: That goal went down like a lead ballon with the crowd, Ireland getting outplayed. Something needs to change to get a handle on this game. Ogbene puts in a decent cross for Idah but it’s away from him and can’t get the header on target.
Ireland 0 England 2
Some one for the narrative there with Rice and Grealish both scoring. And both have been excellent here, as has Alexander-Arnold in a free role at right back. Great start by Lee Carsley, Ireland can’t get close to them.
26 mins: Ireland hanging on to avoid a second, Szmodics getting back again with a good clearance but you’d rather he was on the other side of the pitch. Ireland with 11 men in their own third.
Then the GOAL FOR ENGLAND! Grealish to add to Rice. It’s a brilliant goal. Rice, Mainoo, Saka one touch passing and then Grealish finishes it off. Not good for Ireland.
Ireland 0 England 2
21 mins: Ireland struggling to make inroads, Colwill a centre back at left back, is strong in one-on-ones against Ogbene. Kane plays Gordon in again, that’s a problem area for England, but doesn’t lead to anything this time.
Ireland 0 England 1
15 mins: Chance for England! Kelleher makes another brilliant save after a thrilling counter. Rice drives through, lays off to Gordon and into Kane whose shot is well saved from short-range.
Ireland 0 England 1
12 mins: GOAL FOR ENGLAND! Of course it’s Declan Rice. Gordon was through on goal from Alexander-Arnold and great save from Kelleher, then Gordon hits it back into the box to Kane, it’s blocked and who does it fall to? Rice, who buries it in the net.
He doesn’t celebrate. It had to be him.
Earlier, Szmodics had a chance with a shot well saved from Pickford.
Ireland 0 England 1
7 mins: Ireland showing a lot of aggression early doors, not letting England much space. Gordon shows threat on the left wing and the cross from Alexander-Arnold to Kane is just headed over. Best chance from England so far.
Ireland 0 England 0
4 mins: Chance! An early corner for Ireland, and a big opportunity! Molumby gets the flick on and heads it over, should have hit the target. Earlier Grealish got the crowd’s ire for an altercation.
Ireland 0 England 0
2 mins: Mainoo gets pushed off the ball in the opening move then Rice gets booed. Will be a full-time job for the crowd today. Looks like Trent Alexander-Arnold will be inverting into midfield and hits a nice long ball to Gordon but just offside.
Ireland 0 England 0
English national anthem is roundly and loudly booed. Amhrán na bhFiann gets a greater reception obviously. Kane and Coleman shake hands. Ready to go.
A funny moment before the game:
Electric atmosphere at the Aviva as the teams come out. Should be a good match. More booing for Grealish and Rice.
Here are the teams again:
Ireland team v England: Kelleher; Doherty, Coleman, O’Shea, Collins, Brady; Molumby, Smallbone; Ogbene, Szmodics, Idah
England: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Guehi, Colwill; Rice, Mainoo, Grealish; Saka, Kane, Gordon
Next up, the national anthems…
Some pre-match reading from Muireann Duffy. A history of Ireland and England soccer matches. Ireland have won twice with nine draws between the teams. Who will be the Ray Houghton figure to stick the ball in the England net this evening?
[ Ireland v England through the years: A potted history of every fixture since 1946Opens in new window ]
A considerable booing for Jack Grealish and Declan Rice then as they are announced at the stadium.
Malachy Clerkin writes that beating England would be fun, but Ireland’s future depends on games against teams such as Greece. Heimir Hallgrímsson takes over a side with a lot of experience playing against elite teams, but his reign will live or die on improving results against mid-ranked countries. Read more from Malachy here.
[ Beating England would be fun, but Ireland’s future depends on games against teams such as GreeceOpens in new window ]
A pre-match message from Paul Cooke, the FAI president.
“Your support is going to be vital so please ‘raise the roof’ at the Aviva. And if you see any of the politicians here to witness history in the making, please remind them that football – Ireland’s biggest participation sport – is calling for real support now from Government, local and national, to ensure we develop the future generations who can deliver those breath holding moments.
“No other sport can deliver on the world stage like football. Our historic games against England proved that in the past and we make no apologies asking for Government fund to ensure more historic days in the future. Our young players, many of whom will be watching tonight, deserve to have the best facilities, the best academies, the best opportunities to realise their potential, whatever their level.
“The Irish football community, as taxpayers, deserve Government support for our sport. Don’t be afraid to say that in the coming months when we ask you to put Irish football first. You have always done that to be fair and I know you will put our team first this evening when it really matters against England. Enjoy the game”.
Some interesting selections there. Ireland like to go 5 at the back with Doherty wing back. Molumby in midfield for grit. For England, Rice and Grealish start. An attacking team, with Carsley’s star player for the under 21s Anthony Gordon on the wing.
Ireland team has been announced:
The England team:
Ireland team v England: Kelleher; Doherty, Coleman, O’Shea, Collins, Brady; Molumby, Smallbone; Ogbene, Szmodics, Idah
England: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Guehi, Colwill; Rice, Mainoo, Grealish; Saka, Kane, Gordon
Ken Early thinks new manager Heimir Hallgrímsson sees Ireland much as Trapattoni, O’Neill and McCarthy did, pragmatism first in a break from the “principles” held by Stephen Kenny.
[ Ken Early: Hallgrímsson to signal a return to a pragmatic first principlesOpens in new window ]
A match preview from Gavin Cummiskey, focusing on the new manager. “Heimir Hallgrímsson did not move to Dublin, as the new Republic of Ireland manager, to make friends.” He can make plenty of Irish friends for life if he pulls off a win today though.
[ Heimir Hallgrímsson keeping cards close to his chest in advance of daunting first assignmentOpens in new window ]
More on that Lee Carsley story from Mary Hannigan who writes: “God save Lee Carsley as English press lose their tiny mind over singing of anthem”. In the Daily Mail:
Imagine that actually happened. It wasn’t just the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph as well. Mary has more on the pre-match reaction.
[ God save Lee Carsley as English press lose their tiny mind over singing of anthemOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s game against England at the Aviva Stadium in the Nations League, kick-off is at 5pm. It is a lovely warm September day in Dublin for the welcome of the auld enemy, the first game against the English on Irish soil for nine years. There are narratives aplenty here, so much so that somehow new manager Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first game is down the pecking order. England have a new interim manager, Lee Carsley, who happens to have played 40 times for Ireland. He has already hit the headlines for not committing to singing God Save the King at the Aviva, with Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail saying he should be sacked before the game. Yikes. Watch out for the touchline when that comes on.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish might be happy that some attention has moved away from them, particularly Arsenal midfielder Rice who played three games for the Ireland senior team before switching allegiance to England. This is his first game back in Irish soil since then. His reception should be interesting. This is the first Ireland game of the 2024/25 Nations League B, Finland and Greece the other two in the group.
The line-ups will be posted here when they are made available.