Declan Rice found the net for England as Lee Carsley marked his debut as interim manager with a 2-0 triumph over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
The Arsenal midfielder, who once earned three caps for Ireland, seized a loose ball to score past Liverpool’s Caoimhín Kelleher just 11 minutes into the match.
Rice also played a pivotal role in setting up Jack Grealish, a former Ireland youth player, to secure England’s second goal, kick-starting their UEFA Nations League campaign with a winning edge.
In his 59th appearance for the Three Lions, Rice achieved the rare feat of both scoring and assisting in the same game. “It was a great moment; it was the manager’s first game and we got the win,” Rice told ITV post-match.
“We’re in a league below where we aim to be, so winning this group is vital. Scoring alongside Jack made it even more special.”
This game was England’s first without Gareth Southgate in charge for eight years, signaling a new chapter with Carsley leading the team.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air this week—Lee has been fantastic to work with, his meetings were top-notch, and the training was excellent,” Rice noted. “It’s a fresh start, a change, and getting off to a winning start for him and for ourselves was the main thing.”
