England–Ireland football rivalry
LocationBritish Isles (UEFA)
Teams England
 Republic of Ireland
First meetingIreland 0–1 England
(30 September 1946)
Friendly
Latest meetingEngland 3–0 Ireland
(12 November 2020)
Friendly
Statistics
Meetings total16
Most winsEngland (6)
Most player appearancesEngland Bryan Robson, England Gary Lineker, Republic of Ireland Pat Bonner, Republic of Ireland Paul McGrath, and Republic of Ireland David O'Leary (5 apps)
Top scorerEngland John Atyeo and England Tommy Taylor
(3 goals)
All-time recordEngland: 6
Draw: 8
Ireland: 2

The England–Ireland football rivalry is a rivalry between England and Republic of Ireland football teams. The first ever match was played on 30 September 1946 at Dalymount Park, Dublin. England won the match 1–0.[1][2] On 21 September 1949, Republic of Ireland won the second match 2–0 which was played at Goodison Park, Liverpool and became the first foreign team to defeat England at their home soil.[2][3]

Since then there have a been a total of 16 matches between both the teams with England and Republic of Ireland winning six and two matches respectively and eight games ended in a draw.[4]

History

England and Ireland has a long-standing rivalry, stretching back to Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, when settlers started to control Irish affairs, British colonising the Irish Island and displacing the locals and with the Plantation of Ulster, the Catholic (local) majority was under the control of the Protestant minority settlers. After the Irish War of Independence, the British divided Ireland into two self-governing polities; which later became Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The split caused animosity between England and the Republic of Ireland which can be often seen when the countries meet in any sporting events.[5]

Within football, England and Ireland began playing against one another regularly from the early 1880s, but this was the Ireland team organised by the Irish Football Association based in Belfast which favoured Ulster Protestant players; as participants in the British Home Championship, their relationship with England was fraternal. That Ireland team eventually evolved into the current Northern Ireland national football team, whereas the Republic of Ireland national football team formed in 1921 by the Football Association of Ireland in Dublin had no such sporting familiarity with England (although it was always the case that the majority of the best Irish players were based there) and clear differences in cultural and political leanings amongst their supporters.

The rivalry is further intensified when Irish-born or descendant players switch allegiances to England, with Declan Rice and Jack Grealish being the latest examples, as both represented Republic of Ireland from U16 to U21 levels, then switched to England at senior level.[6][7] Rice made three appearances for the Republic of Ireland before joining England.

List of matches

No. Date Location Competition Home team Result Away team
1.30 September 1946Republic of Ireland DublinFriendlyRepublic of Ireland0–1England
2.21 September 1949England LiverpoolFriendlyEngland0–2Republic of Ireland
3.3 October 1956England London1958 FIFA World Cup qualificationEngland5–1Republic of Ireland
4.19 May 1957Republic of Ireland DublinRepublic of Ireland1–1England
5.24 May 1964Republic of Ireland DublinFriendlyRepublic of Ireland1–3England
6.8 September 1976England LondonFriendlyEngland1–1Republic of Ireland
7.25 October 1978Republic of Ireland DublinUEFA Euro 1980 qualifyingRepublic of Ireland1–1England
8.6 February 1980England LondonEngland2–0Republic of Ireland
9.25 March 1985England LondonFriendlyEngland2–1Republic of Ireland
10.12 June 1988West Germany StuttgartUEFA Euro 1988England0–1Republic of Ireland
11.11 June 1990Italy Cagliari1990 FIFA World CupEngland1–1Republic of Ireland
12.14 November 1990Republic of Ireland DublinUEFA Euro 1992 qualifyingRepublic of Ireland1–1England
13.27 March 1991England LondonEngland1–1Republic of Ireland
–15 February 1995Republic of Ireland DublinFriendlyRepublic of Ireland1–0[lower-alpha 1]England
14.29 May 2013England LondonFriendlyEngland1–1Republic of Ireland
15.7 June 2015Republic of Ireland DublinFriendlyRepublic of Ireland0–0England
16.12 November 2020England LondonFriendlyEngland3–0Republic of Ireland
  1. ↑ Match was abandoned after 27 minutes following crowd trouble. The result was declared void but players were still credited with international caps.

Statistics

All-time top goalscorers

Nation Player Goals Years
England John Atyeo 3 1955–57
England Tommy Taylor 3 1953–57
England Gary Lineker 2 1984–92
England Kevin Keegan 2 1972–82

All-time most appearances

Nation Player Appearances Years Position
England Bryan Robson 5 1980–1991 Midfielder
England Gary Lineker 5 1984–1992 Forward
Republic of Ireland Pat Bonner 5 1981–1996 Goalkeeper
Republic of Ireland Paul McGrath 5 1985–1997 Defender
Republic of Ireland David O'Leary 5 1976–1993 Defender

Overall

Matches Wins Draws Goals
England Rep. of Ireland England Rep. of Ireland
FIFA World Cup 100111
FIFA World Cup qualification 210162
UEFA European Championship 101001
UEFA Euro qualification 410353
All competitions 8215127
Friendly 8413116
All matches 166282313

References

  1. ↑ "Friendlies 1946 » September » Ireland - England 0:1". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 Healy, Martin (11 November 2020). "The long history of Ireland vs England matches through the years". extra.ie. Extra.ie. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Friendlies 1949 » September » England - Ireland 0:2". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "England » Record against Ireland". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Wallenfeldt, Jeff. "The Troubles". britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Delaney, Miguel. "What Ireland really feels about England, an 800-year rivalry of shades of grey, green and white". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Jack Grealish chooses England over Republic of Ireland". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
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