Lee Carsley's first game in charge of England got off to a perfect start as the Three Lions cruised to a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland. Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, who both infamously switched allegiance from Ireland to England, scored the goals for the visiting team. Despite playing under a new boss and without former manager Gareth Southgate, England looked comfortable and in control throughout the match. However, Carsley's decision not to sing God Save the King and accidentally sitting in the wrong dugout raised a few eyebrows before the game.
As England took on the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League opener, all eyes were on Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, who both started against their former country. However, the two players faced a hostile reception from the Irish fans throughout the match, with jeers starting even before kick-off and a memorable poster in the crowd dubbing them "snakes". The contentious atmosphere was further fueled by interim manager Lee Carsley, who made headlines by not singing the national anthem and barely being audible over the jeers. For Rice, who had previously represented Ireland at both youth and senior levels, this was yet another chapter in his complex international career.