Great animosity and intolerance between the English and the Irish have been no secret for decades. The best evidence of that can most often be seen at sporting events. The clash between the Republic of Ireland and the Three Lions opened the competition in the B division of the UEFA Nations League, and at the Aviva Park in Dublin, the home crowd primarily focused on two traitors, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.Declan Rice goal vs Ireland 🇮🇪Decides not celebrate it 😭😭😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xvYxVTSuHB— Soumyadeep Sur (@suurrrrr) September 7, 2024 2-0 England.JACK GREALISH DOUBLES THE LEAD !!!!! DECLAN RICE GOAL + ASSIST !!!pic.twitter.com/y32J0JQfZU— Football Report (@FootballReprt) September 7, 2024 Apart from the standard whistles for the boys who moved through almost all youth categories of Ireland (Rice even played three matches for the senior squad), a colorful banner “Snakes are back” appeared in the stands. And football, the way only it knows how, arranged that the “duo of traitors” bring the victory to England – 2-0.Before the match kicked off, Ireland fans held up a banner reading ‘The snakes are back’ in reference to Declan Rice and Jack Grealish for choosing to represent England instead of Ireland. • Declan Rice scored 1st goal vs Ireland. • Jack Grealish scored 2nd goal vs Ireland. pic.twitter.com/FaR0FcdBXo— 🅨🅔🅛🅛🅞🅜🅐🅝 (@YELL0MAN) September 7, 2024 Rice has been playing for the youth categories of Ireland since 2015, and in 2018, he made his debut in the green jersey. Although he was born in London, the fact that his grandparents on his father’s side are from Cork directed him towards Ireland, but in 2019, he managed to change his colours and replace the Irish green with English white. However, when he found the net in the 11th minute tonight, six years and 97 days since his only appearance for Ireland at the Aviva Park, he held his hands up in apology – he did not want to celebrate.Declan Rice and Jack Grealish both used to play for Ireland.Rice didn’t celebrate his goal but Grealish had no problem celebrating after scoring vs. his former national team 😂 pic.twitter.com/125OpD89aA— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2024 Fifteen minutes later, Rice set up a goal for Grealish, who, after scoring, rushed rather energetically to celebrate. Grealish, who was born in Birmingham but whose maternal grandparents are from the Dublin area, played for Ireland from 2011 to 2014 before moving on to play for England’s youth team until 2020, when he debuted for the senior squad. So, two players, two similar stories, and two goals in Caoimhin Kelleher’s net.Arsenal’s new starlet Calafiori gets injured in the most bizarre way (VIDEO)As expected, England dominated and could have easily had a three-goal advantage at the break, but similarly to during Gareth Southgate’s spell, they did not try to crush the opponent. It was similar in the second half. The away team mainly relied on the defence consisting of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi, and Levi Colwill, which allowed the opponent only two shots on goal after the break, none of them on target.Interestingly, England’s interim manager Lee Carsley, like Grealish, was born in Birmingham, but he wore the Ireland jersey for nine years, making 40 appearances. In the second half, he subbed in some “new guys” like Morgan Gibbs-White and Angel Gomes, as well as Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, and John Stones. The West Ham’s captain could have made the triumph even more convincing in added time but shot inaccurately.##NAJAVA_MECA_8318202##
