2024-09-10 00:08:05
Published: 09:54, 8 September 2024 Updated: 10:06, 8 September 2024
One of the team’s most reliable offensive players is missing three stars. There was concern about how England would do in the Nations League. Lee Kersley’s team got off to a flying start. Declan Rice and Jack Grealish scored twice to beat Ireland 2-0.
On Saturday (September 7), England started playing with power from the start of the match at the opponent’s field. Ireland were unable to capitalize on their attacks. And in the second half, the hosts answered it with good football. But the failure of the finish did not see the net.
However, it was Ireland who had the first chance in the third minute in Dublin. A team-mate’s flick from the corner found the far post but an unguarded Jason Molambi was unable to get his head on target. England got the first chance in the seventh minute. Harry Kane couldn’t get his head on target from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s excellent cross from the penalty spot.
Attack-by-attack the match gets worse. England finally took the lead in the eleventh minute. Anthony Gordon rushes forward after receiving the ball from Alexander-Arnold. Irish goalkeeper Kevin Kellahar could not keep the ball in his hands even though his attempt failed. When Kane’s attempt at the return ball also failed, Rice found the net with the loose ball.
Kane missed an easy chance in the fifteenth minute. The Bayern Munich striker couldn’t beat Ireland goalkeeper Kellahar even from close range. Grealish then doubled the lead in the 26th minute. The Manchester City midfielder found the net near the post after receiving Rice’s cutback in the D box.
Ireland jumped into the second half in a big way. They shook the tourists with one attack after another. The Irish almost reduced the deficit in the 59th minute. But Sammy Smdix didn’t fake it for a moment. After two minutes, Molambi disappointed the team with a shot from a good position.
In added time both teams had chances but the margin remained the same. England will play against Finland next Wednesday. Ireland will face Greece on the same day.
Dhaka/Vijay