{"id":5322,"date":"2024-09-05T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T08:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=5322"},"modified":"2024-09-05T08:00:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T08:00:14","slug":"england-players-that-could-have-represented-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/england-players-that-could-have-represented-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Bellingham, Kane, Rooney, Gascoigne – 10 England Stars That Could’ve Represented Ireland Internationally"},"content":{"rendered":"

As England and Ireland prepare to face off at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, we’re taking a look at some of the best Three Lions stars could’ve represented the Irish internationally.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest installment of the long-standing rivalry between Ireland and England<\/a> is almost upon us, as the pair prepare to face off in their 2024\/25 Nations League opener in Dublin on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n

It’ll be the first competitive meeting<\/a> between the pair in over 30 years, and they’ll both be looking to get off to a strong start under their new managers, Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson and Lee Carsley.<\/p>\n

Of course, those familiar with England’s new interim manager will know that he represented the Ireland national team 40 times throughout his playing career, despite being born and raised in Birmingham, England.<\/p>\n

Carsley isn’t the only English-born player to do this, with six of Ireland’s current squad being born in England.<\/p>\n

But did you know that there are a plethora of world-class England internationals that could’ve donned the Irish green over the years? Our top 10 list reveals some of the best English players that could’ve done exactly that, in no particular order.<\/p>\n

10 England Stars That Could’ve Represented Ireland<\/h2>\n

10. Declan Rice<\/h3>\n

One of the more famous cases of a player switching international allegiances in recent years is undoubtedly Declan Rice’s switch from the Republic of Ireland to England, as he had made over 20 appearances for the Boys in Green across all age groups and as a senior international.<\/p>\n

Yes, Rice earned a total of three senior international caps for Ireland, but decided to switch when England came calling.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old was omitted from Martin O’Neill’s squad to face Wales in August 2018 after being approached by the English, and in February 2019, the Arsenal<\/a> star pledged his future to the Three Lions.<\/p>\n

Rice, who was eligible for Ireland thanks to his paternal grandparents from Cork, has since made 58 appearances for England and is one of the standout midfielders not only in the Premier League<\/a>, but also in the world.<\/p>\n

9. Jack Grealish<\/h3>\n

Similarly to Rice, Jack Grealish represented the Republic of Ireland on numerous occasions throughout the age groups but never made an appearance for the senior national side.<\/p>\n

Grealish’s eligibility came through a number of familial links. The Manchester City<\/a> winger’s maternal grandfather is from County Dublin, his paternal grandfather is from Gort, County Galway, and his paternal grandmother is from Sneem, County Kerry. Influenced by his Irish heritage, he also played Gaelic football as a youngster.<\/p>\n

Whether he would pledge his international allegiance to England or Ireland was a major story in the media between 2014 and 2015, and after declining multiple call-ups to the senior Irish side, Grealish confirmed in September 2015 that he’d opted to represent the country of his birth, England.<\/p>\n

The following May, he made his debut for the Three Lions’ Under-21s side, and in August 2020, he was called up to the senior team for the first time. He has since gone on to make 36 appearances for England, scoring a total of two goals.<\/p>\n

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"That's life, we move on"<\/p>\n

Roy Keane's reaction to Jack Grealish choosing to play for England over Ireland. pic.twitter.com\/BIqQnALWBL<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) September 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n