It was a night to remember for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, as he scored and assisted for England against Ireland.
The Nations League got off to a strong start for England under Lee Carsley, with the Three Lions recording a 2-0 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
Arsenal stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were involved, with Rice stealing the headlines for his influence.
Receiving an incredibly hostile reception in Dublin, the midfielder returned to face his previous national team, whom he recorded three senior appearances for before making the switch to England.
- READ MORE: Why Declan Rice was booed at Ireland v England match as Arsenal star features in international duty
Why Declan Rice didn’t celebrate for England against Ireland
Rice played for Ireland at youth level before recording three senior appearances for the country of his Grandparents’ birth.
It was written in the stars that Rice and Jack Grealish, who also previously represented Ireland, would score the two goals to hand England the win at the Aviva.
Grealish celebrated wildly in front of the England fans however, Rice opted for a more subdued reaction to his goal, which surprised many.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS after the game, the midfielder explained exactly why he decided not to celebrate against Ireland.
“I was never going to celebrate,” Rice explained.
“My nan and grandad are not here anymore and I think it would have been disrespectful to them, my dad’s also here.”
During his interactions with the media after the victory, the 25-year-old remained calm and level-headed, focusing mainly on the win and performance of his side in Dublin.
Why Rice plays for England instead of Ireland
Rice, who was born in London, made the decision to switch nationalities to represent England purely based on his footballing aspirations.
The Arsenal star was able to change the country he represented due to FIFA’s rules that state that a player must not have played more than three competitive games for the nation before they are 21.
- READ MORE: Why Declan Rice switched Ireland for England in international football before Arsenal transfer
Rice’s three senior appearances for Ireland came in friendlies, hence his switch being sanctioned.
Speaking at the time, Rice described his decision as one of a ‘personal’ nature, and one that fitted his future.
“Ultimately, it is a personal decision that I have made with my heart and my head, based on what I believe is best for my future.”
Rice will have few fans in Ireland after his heroics for the Three Lions in Dublin however, his reasons for not celebrating have become far more understandable.
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