Roy Keane doesn't hold back as ITV pundit blasts England despite Ireland win - 'Awful'
Roy Keane has blasted England for their second half performance in their 2-0 win over Ireland on Saturday.
ITV
Roy Keane has blasted England for their second half performance in their 2-0 win over Ireland on Saturday.
The Three Lions were playing under Lee Carsley for the first time, with the former Everton star taking charge of the team following the recent departure of Gareth Southgate.
England weren't at their brilliant best but still secured victory nonetheless following goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish in the first half.
Carsley's side dominated possession and had more shots than their rivals during the clash.
Roy Keane has blasted England for their second half performance in their 2-0 win over Ireland on Saturday.
ITV
Yet Keane has now criticised England's second half display, saying it was 'awful' and that too many individuals were 'playing for themselves'.
"The frustrating thing today is Ireland were there for the taking," said the former Manchester United star.
"England dominated the first half. We praised them, their decision-making, their quality, their movement, but that was the opposite for the second half.
"I thought they were awful in the second half, players playing for themselves, taking too many touches, trying to play Roy of the Rovers passes.
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"Ireland played with a lot of pride in the second half but as good as England were in the first half I thought they were just as bad in the second half.
"Players playing for themselves. Even the substitute players strolling on, strolling off, showing a bit of arrogance.
"There's a team there for the taking, especially for attacking players, if you're on that pitch you're thinking, 'I've got chances here to go and score a goal'."
It was perhaps written in the stars that both Rice and Grealish would score.
The England duo actually represented Ireland at youth level earlier in their careers.
Rice opted against celebrating after the Arsenal star opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
Yet Grealish couldn't resist the temptation, with the Manchester City star drowning out the boos as he doubled his side's lead.
Carsley was happy with his side's victory, with the 50-year-old saying: “I thought it was good in parts, you have seen some of the things we have tried to do.
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Declan Rice put England in front in their 2-0 victory over Ireland on Saturday night
PA
“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.
“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.”
On Rice and Grealish scoring, he added: “I thought they both [Rice and Grealish] took their goals really well, they were well-worked moves and brilliant finishes.
Jack Grealish doubled England's lead in their 2-0 win over Ireland
PA
“I think they can both add a lot more goals to their game. 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.
“It was a really dry and sticky pitch, which is not often good for dribblers, but I thought Anthony [Gordon] was really good. "He has carried on his form from last season and he looks like a really dangerous player.”