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Gareth Southgate admitted he was impressed with Jack Grealish because the England winger sparkled and Harry Maguire loved a second of redemption in Thursday’s 3-Zero pleasant win in opposition to the Republic of Ireland. Just 48 hours after the resignation of English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke following his offensive feedback concerning the BAME and LGBT communities, Southgate’s aspect confirmed no indicators of being distracted by the controversy. After being despatched off in his earlier England look in opposition to Denmark, Maguire captained his nation for the primary time and scored the opening purpose at Wembley.
It was a great addition for Maguire, who has endured a troublesome marketing campaign marred by his Greek courtroom case and poor type for Manchester United and England.
Jadon Sancho bagged England’s second purpose earlier than the interval and Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it three with a second-half penalty.
That was sufficient to seal England’s first success in opposition to the Republic since 1985.
Grealish, beginning in opposition to the nation he represented at youth stage, caught the attention on the left flank as he justified the fixed calls from followers and pundits for the Aston Villa star to be given a sustained run within the crew.
“The two players in those roles, Jadon and Jack, they’ve got the freedom to go either side of the pitch and try and create overloads,” Southgate stated.
“I thought at times both of them did that really well. Of course, as soon as they are turned and running at people, they are a real problem for the opponent.”
There was a landmark second for Jude Bellingham, who turned the third youngest participant to signify England when the 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder got here on for Mason Mount within the 73rd minute.
Bellingham, who left Birmingham to hitch Dortmund earlier this yr, is behind solely Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney within the record of England’s youngest gamers.
The teenager is one for the long run, however Southgate could have been extra inspired by the way in which his understudies impressed after he rested Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson earlier than the Nations League video games in opposition to Belgium on Sunday and Iceland subsequent Wednesday.
“I was very pleased with the way the boys played. A lot of young players, a lot of inexperienced players, we used the ball very well, created a lot of chances, could have been more comfortable if we’d taken some of those chances but overall very pleased,” Southgate stated.
“We were a bit slow at the start but that’s understandable. It’s not a team that have had a lot of time to work together.
“The longer they went on, among the interaction, among the play between our attacking 10s and our wing-backs particularly was superb.”
Southgate had urged England to put the focus back on football after Clarke’s self-inflicted demise triggered a “turbulent week” and his team were always in control in their first meeting with the Republic since 2015.
Temporary reprieve
Maguire put England ahead in the 18th minute when Harry Winks crossed back into the area and the defender rose above Shane Duffy to head past Darren Randolph for his second goal in an England shirt.
Sancho has been struggling to find his peak form for Borussia Dortmund this season, but the winger showed his quality to double England’s lead in the 31st minute.
Grealish teed him up on the left side of the Ireland area and Sancho shifted the ball onto his right foot before curling a low strike past Randolph.
Bukayo Saka won a penalty in the 56th minute when he wriggled past Cyrus Christie, who responded with a clear trip on the Arsenal wing-back.
Promoted
Everton striker Calvert-Lewin stroked the spot-kick excessive into the roof of the online for his second England purpose.
Manchester United’s Dean Henderson had come on for his England debut at half-time, changing Nick Pope in purpose, however he was barely examined because the hosts cruised to the ultimate whistle.
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