During the UEFA Nations League match on Saturday, Ireland fans directed their frustration towards England players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish. The fans targeted the players with jeers at the Aviva Stadium. A banner displayed images of Rice and Grealish with the statement, “The snakes are back.”

Declan Rice, who had previously played for Ireland, scored the opening goal for England in the 11th minute but refrained from celebrating. Rice had represented Ireland three times before opting to play for England, where he has distinguished himself as one of the top midfielders in Europe. Jack Grealish, who had featured for Ireland at the youth level, also switched his allegiance to England to further his career.

Both Rice and Grealish were born in England but were eligible to play for Ireland, creating a sense of disappointment among some Irish fans during the match. England’s interim manager Lee Carsley, who made 40 appearances for the Irish senior team during his playing career, also hails from England.

The match highlighted the complex decisions and emotions involved in international football allegiances as players navigate their options to represent different national teams.