For tonight’s event, we present the team from England… Loud jeers ensue! With number four, Declan Rice… Echoing boos! Number 10, Jack Grealish… More booing!!! Kindly rise for England’s national anthem… An uproar of boos!!! So, what comes next? You jeer at Declan Rice and Jack Grealish whilst loudly chanting when Lansdowne Road’s speaker system blares Put ‘Em Under Pressure. You take a haughty stance to jeer God Save The King, despite the disapproving looks from many around you shaking their heads in disbelief.
So, what follows? The typical sequence of events. Competent players demonstrate their skills on the field, disregard the ruckus, and give a stellar performance. On an evening when Heimir Hallgrímsson’s tremendous task became increasingly evident as the match proceeded, it was Rice and Grealish who were the most outstanding players on the field.
Regardless of any reluctance, kudos must be given to both of them. It’s been a considerable while since any two players have faced such vehement hostility upon their arrival in Dublin as these two did, if such a thing has ever occurred. From the moment they were introduced 40 minutes prior to the kick-off, they faced continuous jeers and slander.
Nevertheless, none of that mattered. They both displayed utter composure in the face of harsh criticism. Together, they hardly misplaced any pass throughout the game and breezed through what essentially was a routine day at work. Rice scored the first goal and subsequently assisted Grealish to score the second one. It was like a game of cat and mouse, with Ireland being the latter. They toyed with us before triumphing.
What other outcome could we have anticipated? Rice and Grealish play for two of the world’s most renowned football clubs on a regular basis. Every three or four days, they become the focus of derision, met with belittling remarks and a barrage of insults in a myriad of languages and accents. They are well-accustomed to handling such situations during games like this.
Despite the hostile away crowd, they remained steadfast in their apathy, treating it like any other challenging game. They managed to settle things within the first 25 minutes. At the onset of the match, Rice appeared a bit detached, somewhat distant from the battle. It wasn’t that he was avoiding any part of the game; rather, the action was occurring in his absence, and he was okay with it.
On the other hand, Grealish seemed to thrive on the antagonism. He entangled himself in an early exchange with Chiedozie Ogbene, leading to a tumultuous response from the crowd. When hit by the first of the evening’s multiple fouls by Nathan Collins, he smirked bitterly. He was continually seeking opportunities, strategically nudging the ball with precise touches and assertive interjections.
One erroneous move by Grealish allowed Matt Doherty to press him from behind, inciting Ogbene to invade the right side. Although the manoeuvre resulted in a Sammie Szmodics’s attempt on goal which Jordan Pickford managed to deflect, it was nonetheless satisfying as it originated from Grealish’s miscalculation.
Then to everyone’s surprise, Rice struck back, scoring the match’s first goal. Will Smallbone initially contained him but eventually lost grip, and watched as Anthony Gordon launched an attack. Despite the best efforts of Caoimhin Kelleher and Nathan Collins to stabilise the situation, Rice was unhindered and effortlessly swished the ball into the goal. It appeared that all the jeering meant nothing when a midfielder preoccupied with the game failed to perform his duties.
Following his goal, Rice sprinted to the cheering England fans situated behind the Havelock Square end, performing a footballer’s customary flat-palm gesture, typically used when scoring against their former team. The fact it happened in an international match only amplified the unusual nature of the game. Coupled with such oddities as Lee Carsley drawing attention for abstaining from the anthem and an overweight man in an England shirt appearing out of nowhere to pose for a team photo before being removed; it was quite a night to remember!
Without a doubt, Grealish definitely made his presence felt. By the time the clock hit the 25th minute, Rice was emerging as the outstanding player on the field. He dominated the midfield, flawlessly disrupted the opposition’s rhythm, and spearheaded England’s attack. After receiving the ball on the right flank of England’s side, he neatly exchanged passes with Kobe Mainoo and Bukayo Saka before setting up Grealish for a smashing finish.
Grealish made no attempt to downplay the splendour of the goal. He leapt into the air, fists clenched, and basked in the adulation of his co-players. Rice was the first to congratulate him, embracing in celebration. All obstacles were overcome, all critics hushed.
This, obviously, is the pivotal aspect of it all. Observing Ireland compete in these matches – and more importantly, in games against lower-ranked teams than England – it’s glaringly clear that the type of players that Hallgrímsson is sorely lacking are the likes of Declan Rice and Jack Grealish. Players that are not merely robust defenders or potential goalkeepers, but dynamic midfielders and cunning forwards. If that were the case, maybe the loss wouldn’t pain as much.
However, whatever discomfort there was seemed to have largely dissipated by half-time. The significant disparity in skill between the teams meant that by the interval, much of Ireland’s fire had been extinguished. Grealish and Rice once again possessed the ball in the 46th minute.
Strikingly absent were any sounds of disapproval.