England interim manager Lee Carsley has challenged Declan Rice and Jack Grealish to score "a lot more goals" following their crucial contributions in the Three Lions' 2-0 Nations League win over the Republic of Ireland.
Both men were on target in the first half of the League B Group 2 showdown at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, as Rice curled home a sumptuous effort into the top corner before setting up Grealish's low finish into the bottom corner.
Rice and Grealish's efforts were particularly painful for the Boys in Green faithful, as the pair had represented Ireland at various levels - Rice even as a senior in three friendlies - before making the switch to England.
The Arsenal man enjoyed a terrific 2023-24 campaign in front of goal with seven strikes in his debut Premier League season for the Gunners, while Grealish could only muster three efforts in another underwhelming and injury-hit campaign.
Regardless of their varying degrees of individual success last season, Carsley laid down a goalscoring challenge to both men when speaking to the media at full time, as his reign got off to the perfect start.
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Carsley: 'Grealish has nothing to prove to England'
"I thought they both [Rice and Grealish] took their goals really well, they were well-worked moves and brilliant finishes. I think they can both add a lot more goals to their game," englandfootball.com quotes Carsley as saying.
"He [Grealish] doesn't have anything to prove to us, we can see his quality. That will have done him the world of good today, scoring a goal for England, and hopefully we can see more of him in that form."
Rice bagged the first goal of the Carsley era with just 11 minutes gone in Dublin, as Anthony Gordon kept the ball alive after missing a one-on-one with Caoimhin Kelleher, and the Arsenal lynchpin was the catalyst behind an incredibly well-worked second.
Rice linked up expertly with Kobbie Mainoo and Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, playing an exquisite one-two with the latter before squaring for Grealish, whose first-time strike rolled into the exposed bottom corner as Kelleher was left flat-footed.
England did not shy away from trying to add more goals to their tally before the break, but they failed to do so and suffered a drop in intensity levels in the second half, albeit not to the point where Ireland looked capable of a late turnaround.
Carsley rejects 'Carsball' claims after opening victory
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Carsley's philosophy has been affectionately dubbed 'Carsball', but the 50-year-old rejected such a notion and insisted that his players should take more of the credit than him.
"I thought it was good in parts, you have seen some of the things we have tried to do. The lads have to take all of the credit and I think we have shown we have some real talent, and we can be pleased with the clean-sheet as well," Carsley added.
"I would not call it my style of way of playing, the players have to take a lot of credit. The way they have taken some of the things we have spoken about, moving the ball forward quickly, running forwards and getting into pockets, I thought they did really well."
England's victory in Dublin temporarily propelled them to the top of their Nations League group, but they are now behind Greece on goal difference following the latter's 3-0 win over Finland.
The Scandinavian side will visit Wembley on Tuesday for England's second match of the month, and Carsley's first home game in charge of the Euro 2024 runners-up.
Ben Knapton
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