Why are Jack Grealish and Declan Rice being booed against Ireland?
ENGLAND begin life without Gareth Southgate with a trip to the Aviva Stadium to take on Ireland in the Nations League TONIGHT.
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice have both been handed starts by interim manager Lee Carsley – but why are some of the crowd booing the Three Lions duo?
Why are Jack Grealish and Declan Rice being booed against Ireland?
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice are being booed by parts of the Aviva Stadium during England‘s clash with Ireland on Saturday evening.
The crowd’s anger is down to the fact that both players represented Ireland earlier in their careers before switching allegiances to the Three Lions.
Birmingham-born Grealish donned the Irish green at youth level due to the winger qualifying for the nation through his grandparents.
The Man City forward switched his allegiances to England in September 2015.
Rice is also preparing for a reunion with Ireland after earning three friendly caps in 2018 before opting to represent the Three Lions instead.
The London-born midfielder, like Grealish, was able to play for the ‘Boys in Green’ due to his grandparents originating from Cork.
And it’s not just on the field where the connections lie, as the man in the England dugout for the first time, Carsley, appeared 40 times for Ireland during his playing career.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, former Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given stated that the former Irish internationals can expect a fiery atmosphere in Dublin.
He said: “Lee won’t be expecting anything else other than a volatile reception with his team because it’s our biggest rival.
“It’s going to be a fiery atmosphere, that’s for sure. It’s crazy how the stars have aligned that his first game is Ireland away.
“I don’t imagine Lee will be doing a lap of honour after the game! He knows what he’s walking into.
“Rice and Grealish are two brilliant players who were both wearing the green of Ireland at one point.
“I’m sure they’ll be in for a bit of a reception as well.
“Jack’s back in the squad. I texted him jokingly the other day that I hope he’s ready for a nice reception when he gets back to Dublin and I got a few laughing faces back.”
During Carsley’s pre-match press conference, he was asked if he had any concerns over Grealish and Rice playing at the Aviva Stadium this evening, he said: “No, not all.
“We spoke – not only (to) Jack and Declan, to the whole squad – we spoke about the atmosphere we expect it to be.
“Exciting, passionate, loud, but it’ll be no different to what the players are used to in Premier League games or high level games. I think they’ll be ready for whatever comes out.”