England–Republic of Ireland football rivalry

England–Republic of Ireland football rivalry

Location	British Isles
Teams	England  Republic of Ireland
First meeting	30 September 1946 Friendly Republic of Ireland 0–1 England
Latest meeting	17 November 2024 UEFA Nations League England 5–0 Republic of Ireland
Statistics
Meetings total	18
Most wins	England (8)
Most player appearances	Bryan Robson Gary Lineker Pat Bonner Paul McGrath David O'Leary (5 appearances each)
Top scorer	John Atyeo Tommy Taylor (3 goals each)
All-time record	England: 8 Draw: 8 Republic of Ireland: 2
England Republic of Ireland

The England–Republic of 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 non-British team to defeat England on their home soil.^[2][3]

Since then there have a been a total of 18 matches between both the teams with England winning eight, Republic of Ireland winning two, and eight games ending in a draw.^[4]

The teams were drawn together in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, where they faced each other home and away in their first competitive fixtures for 33 years.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^{[citation needed]}

The rivalry is further intensified when Irish-born players or players of Irish descent 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.^[7][8] Rice made three appearances for the Republic of Ireland before joining England.

No.	Date	Location	Competition	Home team	Result	Away team
1.	30 September 1946	Dublin	Friendly	Republic of Ireland	0–1[9]	England
2.	21 September 1949	Liverpool	Friendly	England	0–2[10]	Republic of Ireland
3.	8 May 1957	London	1958 FIFA World Cup qualification	England	5–1[11]	Republic of Ireland
4.	19 May 1957	Dublin		Republic of Ireland	1–1[12]	England
5.	24 May 1964	Dublin	Friendly	Republic of Ireland	1–3[13]	England
6.	8 September 1976	London	Friendly	England	1–1[14]	Republic of Ireland
7.	25 October 1978	Dublin	UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying	Republic of Ireland	1–1[15]	England
8.	6 February 1980	London		England	2–0[16]	Republic of Ireland
9.	26 March 1985	London	Friendly	England	2–1[17]	Republic of Ireland
10.	12 June 1988	Stuttgart	UEFA Euro 1988	England	0–1[18]	Republic of Ireland
11.	11 June 1990	Cagliari	1990 FIFA World Cup	England	1–1[19]	Republic of Ireland
12.	14 November 1990	Dublin	UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying	Republic of Ireland	1–1[20]	England
13.	27 March 1991	London		England	1–1[21]	Republic of Ireland
–	15 February 1995	Dublin	Friendly	Republic of Ireland	1–0[a]	England
14.	29 May 2013	London	Friendly	England	1–1[22]	Republic of Ireland
15.	7 June 2015	Dublin	Friendly	Republic of Ireland	0–0[23]	England
16.	12 November 2020	London	Friendly	England	3–0[24]	Republic of Ireland
17.	7 September 2024	Dublin	2024–25 UEFA Nations League	Republic of Ireland	0–2[5]	England
18.	17 November 2024	London		England	5–0[5]	Republic of Ireland

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

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