'I hate it': Pundit says 'outstanding' Arsenal player has done something he really doesn't like
09/07/2024 03:15 AM
England face Ireland on Saturday evening, and this will be a spicy match in more ways than one.
Ireland and England have always had a bitter rivalry on the football pitch, and this game will be all the more fiery for a number of reasons.
England are currently being managed by a former Ireland international – Lee Carsley, while both Jack Grealish and Declan Rice switched their allegiances from Ireland to England as young players.
Speaking on Virgin Media Sport, former Ireland star, Gary Breen, has been discussing how Rice and Grealish will be treated in this game, and he says that the fans will give them plenty of stick.
While Breen didn't have a massive problem with Grealish, he stated that he hates how Rice treated the Irish team.
Gary Breen not happy with Declan Rice
The pundit discussed the Arsenal midfielder’s decision to switch sides.
"I'm not sure how it will be perceived. I think the focus of our players has to be disciplined, but for the supporters, give them some stick, yeah. I look at the scenario with Grealish and I feel like that decision was made early and he had more of an Irish connection as a kid," Breen said.
"For Declan Rice, no, I never felt he was Irish, we were hoodwinked there, and I absolutely hate the fact he used the green jersey as an audition for international football, I hate it."
Declan Rice will get some stick
Declan Rice is going to get plenty of stick when he plays against Ireland on Saturday.
The midfielder is public enemy number one in that part of the world, there's a real sense that Rice betrayed Ireland and used them for personal gain, and it's made all the worse that he switched his allegiance to England of all countries.
Since Rice played for Ireland, he has become an 'outstanding' player and a stalwart in the England team, and it will be interesting to see how he plays in the pressure-cooker environment he faces at Aviva Park on Saturday.
