Tonight I’ll be doing a live blog of the England versus Ireland in an International friendly. Tonight’s game is at Wembley Stadium under closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last time these two sides played each was in 2015 which was a 0-0 draw. England haven’t beaten Ireland since 1985 in a 2-1 victory with Gary Lineker and Trevor Steven scored for England. Ireland have only beaten England twice in their nations history, their last win coming in 1988.
England’s main focus will be for Sunday’s game against Belgium in the Nations League. Most of the players in tonight’s XI will be fighting to try and earn a place in the starting 11 in the game Sunday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be hoping to score another goal for England after his debut goal against Wales in the last set of International friendly’s. On the bench for England is Jude Bellingham who could make his international debut tonight if he comes on.
Embed from Getty ImagesIreland are missing Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy which means Shane Duffy is captain for his side. There are five players in the side that play in the Championship. Ireland will be hoping that their 19-year-old striker Adam Idah will perform well for the their side and will hoping he scores his first goal for his country.
Jack Grealish won’t be disappointed that there isn’t a crowd tonight as he played for the Ireland Under-21 side where he won Player of the Year award. However, in 2015 he decided that he wanted to play for England at a International level and this year he was able to make his England debut.
Both sides are walking out now for the national anthems.
Their is going to be a moments of silence before the game to show respect to Nobby Stiles and Tony Waiters who have sadly passed.
KICK OFF: Ireland start this evening at Wembley Stadium.
Min 3: Grealish is looking to get the ball early on in the game this evening against the nation he represented at a youth level.
Min 5: Early break in the game with John Egan with a knock.
Min 6: First chance in the game was for Tyrone Mings with a header at the back post from a corner after a flick at the front post from Jadon Sancho.
Embed from Getty ImagesTonight is the first time since 2011 that two Aston Villa players are starting a game for England (Grealish and Mings).
Min 10: Ireland have started positively today keeping the ball well and putting England’s defense under pressure.
Min 12: Egan is down again with a head injury again which might mean a early chance.
Substitution for Ireland with Egan off injured for Dara O’Shea.
Min 16: Darren Randolph is taking a lot of risks early on for Ireland with the ball at his feet with Calvin-Lewin putting him under pressure.
Min 17: Bukayo Saka almost put England in the lead after Randolph missed the ball trying the punch it but recovered to make the save.
Min 18: GOAL FOR ENGLAND. The captain for England Harry Maguire scores for after a beautiful cross from Harry Winks where Maguire beats Duffy to the ball and scores for England. Ireland failed to properly clear the corner and were punished.
Min 22: England has looked good since they scored as they look to extend their lead and secure their first win over Ireland since 1985.
Min 26: Good move from England from Reece James but the ball in the box for Calvin-Lewin but was blocked by Duffy.
Min 27: Maguire almost scores again from a corner taken by Mason Mount which was saved by Randolph.
Min 30: Ireland are struggling at the moment as they can not get out of their own half and are conceding a lot of corners.
Min 31: GOAL FOR ENGLAND. Sancho scores for England after Ireland failed to clear another corner. Grealish was able to find Sancho who was able to cut inside and finesse the ball into the bottom corner for England and makes it 2-0.
Min 35: England look very comfortable and Ireland don’t look like they will score.
Min 37: Great pass from Grealish to Sancho who had his shot blocked and out for another corner.
Min 41: Ireland are keeping the ball better in the last few minutes but are still unable to create any opportunities.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe England manager Gareth Southgate will be the happier of the two managers so fair.
Min 45: Ireland have slowed the game down in the last few minutes in the hope to get into half-time only two-nil down.
Min 45+2: England almost scores again with Grealish and Mings with chances but was unable to put the ball in the net.
England dominated the first-half as Ireland’s goal struggles continue as they don’t look like they are going to score. Maguire scored the first goal of the game with Sancho doubling England’s lead. Mount, Winks, and Grealish are controlling the game and creating chances for England and are supported by their wing backs, James and Saka.
Substitution at half time with Dean Henderson coming on making his international debut for England as he is coming on for Nick Pope.
Embed from Getty ImagesHenderson coming on for his debut.
SECOND HALF HAS KICKED OFF.
Min 49: Saka with the first chance of the second-half after a back heal from Mings which put Saka in on goal but heput the ball wide.
Min 51: Good cross from Saka out side to Calvin-Lewin but he couldn’t get the shot on target as it went wide of the goal.
Min 55: PENALTY FOR ENGALND. Cyrus Christie fouls Saka and gives away the penalty.
Min 56: GOAL FOR ENGLAND: Calvin-Lewin scores the penalty for England. He absolutely smashed it in the top corner to make it three-nil to England.
Min 60: Substitutions for Ireland James McClean, Robbie Brady and Kevin Long on for Christie, Callum O’Dowda and Daryl Horgan.
Substitutions for England: Phil Foden and Ainsley Maitland-Niles on for Mings and Grealish.
Min 62: Substitution for England: Tammy Abraham on for Calvin-Lewin
Min 66: Maguire could have scored after a good cross from Saka but he couldn’t get anything on the ball.
Substitutions for Ireland with Conor Hourihane and Idah off for Jayson Molumby and Ronan Curtis.
Min 72: Ireland with their first shot on target with Henderson making a save with his foot and the ball has gone out for a corner.
Min 74: Substitution for England with Bellingham on for his England debut as he comes on for Mount.
Min 79: England haven’t create as many chances this half compared to the first.
Min 80: Shot from distance from Curtis forced a save down low for Henderson.
Min 85: The game has slowed down a lot in the last few minutes and England have just sat off as Ireland pass round the back.
Embed from Getty ImagesFoden playing for England for the first time since he was dropped for England after breaching COVID rules in Iceland with England.
Min 88: Maguire wins another header from a corner but couldn’t score.
Min 90: Two Minutes of added time in the game tonight.
Min 91: Header from Duffy from a corner but couldn’t score.
Full time: England win 3-0 after a comfortable game where Ireland didn’t cause many problems for the England side. Maguire, Sancho and Calvert-Lewin get the goals for England as they looked like they were in third gear for the entire game. Ireland didn’t look like they was going to score at all during the game. Now England will focus on the Nations League as they will face Belgium this Sunday.
