England vs. Ireland: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

The UEFA Nations League match between Lee Carsley's England and Heimir Hallgrimsson's Republic of Ireland will be held Saturday night at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, marking the beginning of two new management regimes.

Both teams are in Group 2 of League B, where they will face off against each other and with Finland and Greece, who are also in the hunt for European advancement.

Previous Matches and head-to-head

After another agonizing second medal finish at Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate's memorable time as England manager came to a natural conclusion. The senior men could not emulate the success of the 2022 women's stars and the 2023 Under-21 heroes, guided by Carsley himself.

Following Southgate's listless and unmotivated squad's performance throughout the tournament, many were surprised that England made it to the final. However, Luis de la Fuente's unstoppable Spain denied them another opportunity to prove themselves world champions.

As he prepares to step down as FA manager after nearly eight years in charge, Southgate kept the position open for Carsley, who has been appointed on an interim basis while the governing body investigates possible long-term candidates; Pep Guardiola's name has been bandied about.

After appointing his first young team, Southgate faced inevitable concerns about whether he wanted the position beyond the fall term. He was only hired as a stop-gap measure until he convinced the FA that he deserved a permanent contract.

The ideal way to kick off such a campaign would be for England to reclaim their place in the Nations League, which they shamefully lost in 2022–23. Three days after their match in Dublin, the Three Lions will host Finland at Wembley.

Team news, lineups, and preview: Ireland national team vs. England

Carsley's impending inauguration has overshadowed the second managerial baptism at the Aviva Stadium. The hosts, Ireland, have brought Heimir Hallgrimsson, a former manager of Iceland and Jamaica, to revive national pride.

Stephen Kenny, who spearheaded Ireland's comeback after their major event exile after Euro 2016, was permanently succeeded by the 57-year-old. Under Kenny, the Boys in Green won only 11 of 40 matches.

After a mixed interim spell earlier this year under John O'Shea—during which Ireland beat Hungary, drew impressively with Belgium, and lost to Switzerland and Portugal—Hallgrimsson was sworn in. Hallgrimsson had a brief stint at the helm of the Reggae Boyz during their underwhelming Copa America campaign.

In charge of an Irish squad that has only won twice in their past ten games and has gone scoreless three times in their last four, Hallgrimsson was a member of Lars Lagerback's coaching staff at Euro 2016, when the Nordic country handed England one of their most embarrassing losses ever.

While the 57-year-old will enjoy a doubleheader in Dublin for his Ireland baptism (on September 10th, Greece will visit the Aviva Stadium), the Boys in Green haven't won against England since the 1988 Euros. They drew their next six matches before the Three Lions beat them thrice in a friendly in 2020.

England x Ireland Team News

After Kieran Trippier's international retirement, Kyle Walker's snub, and Ben White's snub, England boss Carsley has placed faith in four uncapped players: Tino Livramento, Noni Madueke, Angel Gomes, and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden's departures have given Gibbs-White and Gomes a better chance of making their debut. Ollie Watkins has also withdrawn due to a fitness concern, so he will join Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Ramsdale in watching the game from home.

Meanwhile, captain Harry Kane is set to earn his 99th cap. Despite his seeming troubles, he was among six joint-top scorers at the Euros. Carsley has said that he sees Trent Alexander-Arnold more as a right-back than a midfielder, which bodes well for the Liverpool man's prospects of starting this match.

Max O'Leary, a goalkeeper, and Kasey McAteer, an attacker for Leicester City, are both on 57-year-old Hallgrimsson's inaugural Ireland team. While McAteer will almost probably play second fiddle to Caoimhin Kelleher, O'Leary is looking to gain his senior appearances.

Even though nine players, including defensive mainstays Shane Duffy and Enda Stevens, were left out for the June matches, 35-year-old captain Seamus Coleman is determined to earn cap number 73 on Saturday.

Brighton & Hove Albion's 19-year-old striker Evan Ferguson, who has been out for a while with injuries, will compete for a starting position in the middle of the field with players like Callum Robinson, Adam Idah, and Troy Parrott. However, Hallgrimsson may use two-number nines if necessary.

Our Predictions

England to win @

Once upon a time, Ireland and England enjoyed playing one other to a draw. That all changed when the Three Lions won a match, which they may easily repeat at Aviva Stadium.

England still has the offensive nous to go behind Ireland's defence several times, even without Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer. The hosts, Ireland, also lack a real punch up front; thus, Carsley's reign should get off to the best possible start.

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