6 talking points as England and Republic of Ireland start anew in Nations League
England interim boss Lee Carsley is a former Republic of Ireland international.
The Republic of Ireland and England are both starting new eras in Saturday’s Nations League opener in Dublin.
Ahead of this weekend’s Aviva Stadium encounter, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points.
Carsley kicks off reign in familiar surroundings
Champagne on ice
Hallgrimsson was appointed in July and Ireland’s new boss has history with England. He was co-manager, along with Swede Lars Lagerback, of native country Iceland when they unceremoniously dumped England out of Euro 2016 in the last 16, courtesy of a famous 2-1 victory in Nice. As Roy Hodgson’s men headed home – the manager to hand in his resignation – Hallgrimsson, Lagerback and their players headed for the quarter-finals, where they went down 5-2 to hosts and eventual runners-up France at the Stade de France. What he would give for another famous win against England.
Grealish and Rice set for hostile return
Hell for Evan
Can new-look England impress?
Carsley claims not to have thought about getting the permanent post but has immediately tried to shape the England team in his image. “It was important to put my own stamp on it a bit while recognising what players have done in the past when we have got so close,” he said at last week’s squad unveiling. “I thought it was important to put some fresh faces in and put our own little marker on the squad.” Uncapped Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Tino Livramento and Noni Madueke were all brought into his new-look squad and are pushing to make their debuts over the coming days.
Hope for another incident-free encounter
