How’s everyone doing?
Welcome to our live coverage of Ireland’s Nations League opener against England at the Aviva Stadium.
The Heimir Halgrimsson era begins at five o’clock this evening, and against a visiting English side managed for the first time by former Ireland international Lee Carsley.
Another former Ireland international, Declan Rice, starts in midfield for England, and so too does former Ireland U21 Jack Grealish. I’ll have full team news for you momentarily.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates throughout the game in the event that you can’t make it to Landsdowne Road or to a telly.
The headline news out of Halgrimsson’s first selection is that Celtic striker Adam Idah is chosen to start over Evan Ferguson, who is yet to clock meaningful minutes for Brighton this season after a five-month injury absence.
It’s unclear as to what formation Halgrimsson will deploy: he prefers four at the back, whereas John O’Shea has previously gone with three centre-backs and two wing-backs. Their XI today facilitates either formation, so it will be interesting to see how Ireland line out at kick-off.
STARTING XI | Ireland v England
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 7, 2024
Jayson Molumby makes his first international start since November 2023 whilst Chiedozie Ogbene returns to the starting line-up after his injury 👌
Kick-off is at 5pm, not long to wait now! 🇮🇪💚 pic.twitter.com/HfZdrw0AZ3
England certainly look to be playing three centre-backs with Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill all selected to start by Carsley. Kobbie Mainoo partners Rice in midfield.
Your #ThreeLions in Dublin! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/uZOhJuEbPv
— England (@England) September 7, 2024
Ireland’s Icelandic boss already holds a victory over England from Euro 2016, when his home country knocked them out in the last 16.
Your match predictions…
Poll Results:
Sounds like Ireland will indeed start with three centre-backs (Coleman, Collins and O’Shea) and two wing-backs (Doherty and Brady).
It’s a similar system to that which John O’Shea used during his stint as interim manager, but a bit of a departure for Halgrimsson who has typically preferred a four-man defence throughout his own managerial career.
The atmosphere is absolutely fizzing at the Aviva, where the sides are about to make their way out of the tunnel.
Seven minutes to kick-off: strap in!
President Michael D. Higgins just doing the rounds, now.
Very warm double-handed handshake from Rice, who has met him before, of course…
God Save The King is booed to quite a significant extent by portions of the ground.
England’s 3,000 away fans also boo Amhrán na bhFiann, but are naturally drowned out.
This is a very different atmosphere to the 2015 friendly at the Aviva, which finished 0-0.
1′ – IRE 0-0 ENG: The game finally kicks off, over four minutes late. England will attack into their 3,000 away fans in the first half.
Kobbie Mainoo gets us underway.
2′ – IRE 0-0 ENG: Ireland win a corner as Caoimhín Kelleher goes long from a free-kick and Matt Doherty heads onto Ogbene. The winger’s cross is cleared out behind the English byline.
Jayson Molumby gets stuck into Jack Grealish, and the crowd go nuts.
Robbie Brady’s corner is a brilliant one and Molumby gets under his header after a slight nick on the ball as it came to him. Over the bar — that was a good chance!
6′ – IRE 0-0 ENG: Positive start by Ireland, who are, eh, putting England under pressure the old-fashioned way.
7′ – IRE 0-0 ENG: Chance for England! Great ball in by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane’s powerful header goes narrowly over Kelleher’s bar.
Poor marking by Ireland. Kane should have done better.
10′ – IRE 0-0 ENG: England have enjoyed a spell of control since Kane’s chance. Grealish running the show, through the boos.
Ireland, though, carve a nice chance: Ogbene flicks inside to Molumby, he finds Szmodics and Szmodics’ shot from just outside the area is parried away by Pickford.
11′ - GOOOOAAAALLL! AND, UGH, IT’S DECLAN RICE!
Awful defending by Ireland and Anthony Gordon saunters through on a one-on-one. Kelleher makes a great stop, but England recycle.
Gordon squares to Kane, whose strike is blocked, but it rebounds to Rice who hammers the ball with his instep into the top-right corner! Incredible finish from about 15 yards out.
Rice does the muted celebration as though he’s just scored against his former club. The England fans are loving it. It’s a sore one for Ireland.
17′ – IRE 0-1 ENG: Kane had another brilliant chance for England shortly after the goal as the visitors countered from a blocked Robbie Brady free-kick at the edge of their own area.
Another brilliant stop by Kelleher to keep Ireland in this.
Ominous signs. For all of Ireland’s bite, the gulf in actual footballing quality is starting to become evident already.
26′ - I actually don’t believe this. Jack Grealish doubles England’s lead!
It’s Rice who tees up the former Ireland U21 international, playing a one-two with Bukayo Saka before pulling it back to Grealish.
Lovely English move. Grealish sweeps the ball into the bottom left-hand corner with Kelleher rooted to the spot.
Grealish, unlike Rice, properly celebrates it.
England have had 81% possession and Ireland’s ‘back-to-basics’ approach has been roughly as effective as their more possession-based approach under Stephen Kenny — which is to say not very.
It’s, eh…
…It’s not good, folks.
45′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Kane has had a couple more sniffs at goal. Ireland just can’t hold onto the ball. Atmosphere is dead now — Rice isn’t even being booed anymore.
Fair play to England, they’ve been excellent. Ireland reduced to cheap fouls now as we approach half-time.
Ireland trail at the break to goals by Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
46′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: We’re unfortunately back underway at the Aviva.
Far be it for me to tell you what to do with the rest of your afternoon, but I’d propose that you move on with your life and leave this game in your rearview.
I’ll ping you on a notification for any goal, and you also have the option to turn off that facility at the top of the liveblog if you’d prefer to break from the game entirely.
49′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: A lot of Irish fans haven’t returned to their seats for the second half. Presumably, a fair few of them are enjoying a pint around the concourses, but the empty seats are indicative of how intolerable that first half became.
56′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Harry Maguire accidentally trod on Séamus Coleman’s Achilles, taking his boot clean off. Coleman went down in a lot of pain.
The Irish captain, who has been playing in Ireland’s back three, is going to be replaced by Jake O’Brien. A third cap for Coleman’s Everton teammate.
Jason Knight replaces Matt Doherty, too.
58′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: The only hope for Ireland is that England are lulled into such a sense of security that they lose all intensity, and Ireland somehow fashion a goal from that point.
Just as I type that, Szmodics goes close from the edge of the area after a decent move.
The game is being played at friendly pace now.
I should add that most of the seats have filled back up, too.
61′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Ogbene, one of few bright-ish sparks for Ireland, creates an opening. Szmodics feeds Molumby in acres of space at the edge of the box but Molumby’s effort is horrific and flies over the bar.
75′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Kasey McAteer on for his Irish debut, Adam Idah gone off.
The game has kind of descended to nothingness, now. No chances of note. Sterile possession by England who are holding out Ireland at ease whenever they cough up the ball.
82′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Evan Ferguson on for his first bit of football since 31 March, replacing Robbie Brady.
Some minutes in the legs ahead of Greece on Tuesday, at least.
94′ – IRE 0-2 ENG: Two more really good stops by Kelleher to keep it at 2-0 in stoppage time, of which there are five minutes.
Men against boys at the Aviva. A tough evening. Ireland are where they are and it’s a going to be a long way back.
Thanks for joining me for live updates. Catch you soon.
Booing the English anthem ,disgraceful shameful stuff ,the glory days of decent football gone ,the supporters have decided to throw away their reputation now as well…
@Gerry Campbell: You would never see this in Rugby.
@Gerry Campbell: agreed, utterly shameful behaviour by small minded bigots.
@Karl Gallagher: Never. No class in football
@Gerry Campbell: are they really supporters, and I bet they don’t even care.
@Shane O Mac: I’d agree,I was bulling when I wrote that so hopefully it was just a few donkeys
@Gerry Campbell: we deserve the hiding we’re going to get after that. No class
@Karl Gallagher: No. Rugby would be more synonymous with things like dwarf throwing.
@Gerry Campbell: Why is it disgraceful? Who cares. It’s just pantomime stuff. Honestly, the idea that national anthems are sooooo important is just daft. It wouldn’t even bother me to hear other fans booing ours. It’s just a bit of pre-game silliness. The influence of the English gutter press on far too many Irish people is clear to see on so many issues these days. Total melodrama over anything nationalistic and that’s before we get to the really dark side of it.
@Gerry Campbell: better team.by a mile won easy. Disgraceful disrespect from Ireland fans booing the English anthem. They were lucky not to get their stadium smashed up again.
@Gerry Campbell: Get over yourself. That total anachronism of an anthem doesn’t deserve respect. End of. Tonnes of English fans agree. The ones up off their knees when it comes to their social betters. Not the Daily Mail mob.
@Gerry Campbell: That was meant for Basildon Joe. Something up with the reply function. Only brings up your name. Apologies Gerry. But none to Basildon Joe after that loutish comment.
@Basildon Joe: hahaha what a moronic comment… commenting that the booing was disgraceful and in the same breath glamourising the smashing up of a stadium.
@Basildon Joe: gobshiet..they wouldn’t even try it these days. And well they knew it.
@Louis Jacob: Whataboutery at it’s finest. Irish Rugby supporters do not boo the English Anthem (EVER) even though they get a chance at least every other year. People do shocking and disgraceful things all the time and many will have a connection to Irish rugby (Sean O’Brien & Paddy Jackson to name only 2). But the dwarf throwing was English players and irrelevant to a conversation about a few soccer fans who do not have the intelligence to realise that their own bigotry makes them no better than the occupiers of 200 years ago whom they are showing their disapproval of. I also wonder how many of those bigots will be standing shoulder to shoulder with the ancestors of those occupiers in Anfield, Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge in a few weeks time? Quite a few I would guess!!
@Basildon Joe: you’re beyond help.
Ah in fairness it’s a bit funny that Rice and Grealish scored. Booing the national anthem but yet supporting English teams. The irony.
@James Johnson: Liverpool fans in UK don’t sing English national anthem
@Shane O Mac: that’s even more laughable in fairness
@Dave Harris: Alright Dave
@James Johnson: Ehe Eng national anthem represents 800 years of oppression on the Irish people. Man united, Harry Kane or big Ben do not.
@Sean O’Maolain: Ah stop will you. Majority of parents today brought their kids so they could see the English players. Lave it off.
@James Johnson: huge amount of people have great time for Eng ppl and all things good that are English. However, it’s very easy to say forget our past like u do. The English anthem will always remind us of the past.
@Sean O’Maolain: No bother Sean. If you want to live your life living in the past and not being able to change that or do anything about it, you belt away.
@James Johnson: I didn’t say I agreed with the booing. What is wrong with u? Why u so angry. Im just saying it ridiculous mentioning the club’s ppl support. The club’s have nothing got to do with what the Eng anthem represents to a lot of Irish folk.
@Sean O’Maolain: No anger here pal. Just don’t understand Irish disliking the English but still supporting the teams. Anyway, have a great night
@Sean O’Maolain: What do you actually remember of the past and how did it effect you personally?
Crowd booing the English Anthem. Classy.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: How ridiculous was that. Say what you will about the Rugby crown, they would never do that.
@Ben Jones: that’s cos they are west Brits, it’s probably half the supporters true anthem
@orb7eckn: I’m no west Brit and I played rugby….and hurling and Gaelic football amongst other sports…you need to get out a bit more and mix with people and not stay stuck in the box room of your parents house looking for ways to be offended online
@Pat O Dwyer: Don’t worry about me Pat, I’m not one of those wilting violets. I was at the riot our lovely neighbours kicked off in 95, I seen the chaos they caused and the damage they done and that’s recent history, I could go into the other stuff. But I’m glad you can forgive and forget, kudos to you. All you pearl clutchers need a fkn dose of reality.
@orb7eckn: well said joe.
Nottin worse than the Rugby type taking the moral high ground.They only comment on anything negative about the game of football. Forget about them
@colin coady: nice one, I know we are diff sides of the aisle and all that but fk sake give me a break, the rugby crowd and their mocking of the working class game is what it breaks down to. It’s an elitist sport in Ireland played by boys (for the most part) from private schools. The savages are booing a national anthem, what pigs. Meanwhile they have closer problems to home. Need to teach the lads about consent.
Even as a Liverpool supporter (born there) I could never support England. The fact Rice played 3x for Ireland and then changed nation says a lot about him. Sadly we are (as I support Ireland) short on real talent at the moment and seeing both Grealish and Rice score certainly pours salt on the wound.
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: Do most liverpool people support ireland now not england im from cork support liverpool lots irish links
@Shawn: I mean english born in liverpool
@Shawn: Shawn, most wouldn’t be bothered tbh. They may take a passing interest as Trent is playing for England, but generally most people in Liverpool do not give a monkeys (seriously) about England, it’s a southern home counties thing, and yes they’d be most inclined to support Ireland, probably Wales (because of proximity)
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: Yes i heard this a lot
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: “The fact Rice played 3x for Ireland and then changed nation says a lot about him.”
What does it say about James McClean ?
He played several games for Northern Ireland
Only place Brady should be left back is in the changing room
@gary sheehan: Thought that was harsh when I read it first. Then I watched the game. His strike of the ball used to be his strength. Sad to see him fall so far.
Brady and Doherty still togging out. lord. 4 nil England.
@Niall English: Add Coleman to that list
The under 21′s would give england a harder game
@ED: they wouldn’t
Jeez, this is shaping up to be a v LONG 90mins
@Buster Lawless: But a fantastic result for Spartacus in the power lifting! 132kg, a PB and 4th place! #COYGIG!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: And another stage win for Eddie Dunbar in La Vuelta! FABULOUS! #COYBIG!!
People complaing about the booing it was allways going to happen today easy win for england the way 2 nil allreasy lights out
@Shawn: allready
Only for Kelleher, it could have been a total embarrassment
Rice and Grealish score of all people! That won’t go down well…
@Shaner Mac: The English needed our own lads to beat us.
We must be teaching soccer incorrectly at the grassroots level. We can’t string a pass together.
@Ben Jones: it’s ironic that’s exactly what Stephen Kenny was trying to change. We’ll never will be able to string a pass if we go back to hoofing it
England 2-0
Predict a lively opening 10 minutes, Molumby or Coleman getting a yellow card trying to go Roy Keane on an Englsih player. England to take early lead and finish the game off early in the second half
@Owen ODonoghue: going as predicted
I’m sorry but ogbene final ball is shocking considering the amount of ball he gets. Man of the match ( Irish) poor choice. I would give it 2 kelleher.
Grealish different gravy hard believe Southgate left him out love to see him back and villa
@larry ryan: coming back a bit for City lately also.
@larry ryan: it’s Ireland, he had a poor season, last season
@did you every wonder: ah ya infairness I’m big fan gutted he went to city but he was always going to win more there
Isn’t it great this? This post Kenny promised land!
@Declan Young: if Kenny was there they’d have battered them and then probably rode their missus after
Get brady off ffs
A lot of English fans on here,Down with the English.
Up the Irish
@Jb Walshe: Who all irish in comment’s
@Sean: obviously Sean,not one comment of support for the Irish team who also seem to be in awe of the English team as they can’t string a couple of passes together and just pass it straight back to them.. probably why I don’t watch or subscribe to soccer
@Jb Walshe: Very depressing
@Jb Walshe: if you don’t subscribe to it as you say. WTF you on here
@Michael o Dwyer: because I support Ireland Michael and I’m as entitled to come on here and comment as much as anyone else…is that ok with you?
@Jb Walshe: Well said
@Shawn: thanks Shawn,hope it’s another 25 years before I see another game of soccer but for those who watch and support it,well enjoy it lads and ladies
They look clueless 2 b honest . This could be 4 r 5 in the end.
How much would blowing up the Aviva this evening save us in Social Welfare payments?
@5sZl1dX2: What. Please tell me you dropped out of school at a young age
Well you boo two of the England players and you get them scoring goals. Happy now.
I am outraged that our Icelandic manager didn’t sing our national anthem.
@Hotirish: he hummed it
It be interesting to hear what Keane says at half time. Can’t wait.
I know it’s against a top team but Doherty, Malumby and Brady were hopeless and added nothing. Easily the worst midfield we’ve had in the history of Irish football. We need to consider moving someone like Collins in there to add some steel to the team until we unearth some midfield talent.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: Brady was shocking we need to left back as soon as possible smallbone is average get hodge are moran in instead off him
Man of the Match was our keeper. Ronnie has officially lost it. That could and should have been a cricket score. Only positives, didn’t lose the second half. Thought Sammy gave a good account of himself too. 3 centre halfs were awful in the first half.
Hard to get angry cause we are crap. About 6/7 of them team should be jettisoned for good. For those upset by the booing of the Sassnach anthem ,do you know the 5 lamps
@Gerard Lynch: Go on, enlighten me, am only aware of the German Air Force and an anti-immigrant protest there.
@Gerard Lynch: it’s called have a bit of class and rising above the dopes that booed. Unfortunately, soccer seems to support the lower level of intelligence. Ireland are woeful just woeful. English showing us what to do with are booing.
@Pat Barry: stick to rugby if you are upset by fans trying to create a hostile atmosphere for the opposition. This happens the world over.
@Michael O’Brien: soccer fans have low level of intelligence shows your own bias. Don’t like it don’t watch . Leinster be back soon for the bland masses.
@Gerard Lynch: Did you ever consider a career in politics as you can avoid answering the question!
@Pat Barry: you seem a bit soft, easily upset type so I don’t want to be rude Incase you start crying. But if you want me to I will answer. . Upset by the booing of an opposition teams anthem then I suggest you go and leave a part of your anatomy dangling from a famous street light on the north strand. Do I have your vote …
@Gerard Lynch: so you will hardly whinge when the Soldier Song gets booed and whistled at Windsor Park in the event of a Northern/Republic of Ireland game then?
@Thom Hunter: nah it’s all part of the craic, and you enjoy sparking one out that bit better then
@Gerard Lynch: I think you have just confirmed my opinion on the intelligence level of soccer fans. Yep, the oul booing really got them English boys all scared and afraid.
@Thom Hunter: no I would nt care less.
@Michael O’Brien: England were always going to win but the general point seems lost on you so you might need to reflect on your own estimation of your intellect. Maybe the booers should pen an apology to King Charles. You could offer lessons in some form of superiority you think you possess .
Smallbone or small brain?
@Padraig O’Brien: hodge moran do a better job
Formation not working here , Coleman isolated each time
Story of the first half, “Grealish on his hole again.”
Pure malogint!
Enough in the Irish performance to show we will cause weaker teams problems.
@Conor Lynott: What is enough
@Conor Lynott: either im watching a different game or your p!ssed!
@Niall English: shocking outclassed could be 6 allready
@Conor Lynott: not much of a track record causing weaker nations problems in recent years. Irish soccer is sadly only beginning the recovery from it’s recent troubles and under investment. I always enjoy watching them play and live in hope but the booing soured the game for me. This isn’t the standard that is the norm for Irish fans
@Spanner: New manager now. And a manager who, let’s be honest, got the game plan spot on, despite the score.
@Shawn: One goal and a clean sheet. Nothing to suggest we can’t do that against weaker sides than England so far. People need to get real. England have the best attack in the world on paper. With the right manager, England will cause the top 5 real problems
@Conor Lynott: As I said I live in hope and wish him and the team all the best.
@Conor Lynott: Ya i am real but we are miles behind most teams only bit of light is the under 21s
Lol