Jack Grealish, the talented English winger, is set to face a baptism by fire as he takes on the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League match on Saturday. The 28-year-old, who represented the Republic of Ireland at under-age level before switching to England in 2015, can expect a frosty reception from the Aviva Stadium crowd.
The Republic of Ireland striker, Callum Robinson, who is close friends with Grealish, has warned that the Manchester City star can expect some “abuse” from the Irish fans on Saturday. “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t because I think he gets booed anywhere he goes anyway – even in England,” said the 29-year-old Robinson.
Grealish’s decision to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England in 2015 was met with widespread criticism, and it’s unlikely that the Irish fans will have forgiven him by now. The Birmingham-born winger qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents before deciding to represent England.
Jack Grealish’s Journey to the Top
Grealish’s journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. The talented winger rose through the ranks at Aston Villa before making a £100 million move to Manchester City in 2021. His impressive performances for the Citizens earned him a spot in the England squad, and he has since become a regular fixture in the team.
However, Grealish’s success has not gone unnoticed, and he can expect a hostile reception from the Irish fans on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland striker, Callum Robinson, has warned that Grealish will be “getting ready for a bit of abuse” from the crowd. “As I said, he gets it in English games [in the Premier League], I don’t think there will be any change on Saturday, I think he will be getting it,” said Robinson.
Despite the expected backlash, Grealish is unlikely to be fazed. The 28-year-old has developed a thick skin over the years and is well-equipped to handle the pressure. “He’s old enough and with being a senior player now, that stuff’s going to come,” said Robinson. “He’s been in the game long enough to know how to deal with it.”
Callum Robinson’s Warning to Jack Grealish
Callum Robinson has warned Jack Grealish to expect a frosty reception from the Aviva Stadium crowd on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland striker, who is close friends with Grealish, has said that the Manchester City star can expect some “abuse” from the Irish fans.
“I think he’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse but that’s part of it, it’s part of the game,” said Robinson. “He’s old enough and with being a senior player now, that stuff’s going to come. He’s been in the game long enough to know how to deal with it.”
Robinson’s warning comes as no surprise, given Grealish’s decision to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England in 2015. The Birmingham-born winger qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents before deciding to represent England.
Grealish’s Experience of Playing in Hostile Environments
Grealish has plenty of experience playing in hostile environments, having faced intense scrutiny from opposing fans throughout his career. However, the Manchester City star is unlikely to be fazed by the expected backlash from the Irish fans on Saturday.
“He’s been in the game long enough to know how to deal with it,” said Robinson. “He’s old enough and with being a senior player now, that stuff’s going to come. He’s been booed before, and he’ll be booed again. It’s just part of the game.”
The Return of Callum Robinson
Callum Robinson is set to make his return to the international stage after a prolonged absence due to fitness issues. The Republic of Ireland striker, who has nine goals in 37 caps, is eager to make up for lost time under new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Robinson missed the Republic of Ireland’s matches in March and June due to fitness concerns, but he has been working hard to regain his fitness and is now ready to make his return. “In the summer, I grafted and worked really hard, looked after my body, worked on my body and had this in my mind to get back into the squad here and with Cardiff,” said Robinson.
The Cardiff City frontman is excited to get going under new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson after the frustration of missing out on the four friendlies during John O’Shea’s interim spell in charge. “I’m really happy at the moment with how it’s all going and I’ve worked hard to get myself back into the squad,” said Robinson.
Robinson also revealed that former Iceland boss Hallgrimsson outlined his desire to make the Republic of Ireland “harder to beat” during his first couple of training sessions with the squad. “As I said earlier, we’ll try to be solid and hard to beat and sometimes it means going a bit deeper and being more solid defensively,” said Robinson.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Vision for the Republic of Ireland
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s vision for the Republic of Ireland is to make the team “harder to beat” under his stewardship. The former Iceland boss outlined his desire to the squad during his first couple of training sessions and is keen to implement a more solid defensive strategy.
“As I said earlier, we’ll try to be solid and hard to beat and sometimes it means going a bit deeper and being more solid defensively,” said Robinson. “But I still think we’ve got the ability, but when you’re playing England and the top nations, we don’t want to be naive and we want to go with a solid base.”
Hallgrimsson’s approach is likely to be put to the test on Saturday when the Republic of Ireland takes on England in the Nations League match. The former Iceland boss will be keen to make a good impression in his first competitive match in charge and will be hoping that his team can cause an upset against the highly-favored English side.
Grealish and Rice Set for Reunion with the Republic of Ireland
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice are set for a reunion with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday when England takes on the Boys in Green in the Nations League match. The Manchester City winger and the Arsenal midfielder have both represented the Republic of Ireland at younger levels before switching to England.
Grealish, in particular, can expect a hostile reception from the Irish fans, given his decision to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England in 2015. The Birmingham-born winger qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents before deciding to represent England.
Rice, on the other hand, earned three friendly caps for the Republic of Ireland in 2018 before deciding to represent England. The Arsenal midfielder is likely to be a key player for the Three Lions on Saturday and will be keen to make a good impression against his former team.