England 'totally different' to 2016, says Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, Jack Grealish reportedly to start

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Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has said that England are a "totally different" side to the one he helped to famously beat as Iceland boss at the Euros eight years ago. Hallgrimsson said he expects a much tougher test on his debut as Republic of Ireland manager, citing a higher level of "individual quality" and "technical skills" in the England squad.

England, Grealish.

Image credit: Getty Images

Heimir Hallgrimsson is expecting a tough opener in his managerial debut for Republic of Ireland against England on Saturday, warning that The Three Lions are "totally different" to the side he helped to eliminate from Euro 2016 as Iceland co-manager.

Hallgrimsson, alongside fellow co-manager Lars Lagerback, led an imposing Iceland side to a shock 2-1 victory eight years ago, ousting England from the tournament in the last 16.

And while Hallgrimsson wishes for a similar outcome on his debut as Republic of Ireland manager on Saturday, he is expecting a sterner test against a side who have since twice finished as runners-up at the Euros.

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"It is a totally different England team," said Hallgrimsson. "The individual quality, the technical skills and speed of this team is much higher than the one we played.

"They are coming off a good tournament. The biggest difference is they had two months together [at the Euros] and we have three days to prepare. They come here on a high and have players who play in the Champions League day in and day out."

The 2016 defeat caused Roy Hodgson to be removed from his post as England manager, and Hallgrimsson felt the "special" match was one which saw everything fall in Iceland's favour.

"We were just speaking about it in the car to here. That night was special," he said.

"Everything we did that night succeeded. Tactical, taking our chances, defending our goal. Nothing that England tried that night succeeded. It was just one of those days."

Hallgrimsson's counterpart Lee Carsley will also be making his debut in the England dugout as manager, with the interim boss temporarily taking the hotseat following Gareth Southgate's departure after a second-placed finish at Euro 2024.

Carsley - England U21s head coach - opted to give first senior call-ups to Tino Livramento, Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke in his new-look Three Lions squad - and Hallgrimsson said his team must be at their "collective" best to have a chance against England.

"I’m really excited to see the atmosphere in this massive game against England," he said. "To see if we can transfer what we’ve done in training into the pitch.

"Man for man, going gung-ho, we’d probably lose nine times out of 10. It is better being a collective."

Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins all withdrew from the England squad for the Nations League clashes against Republic of Ireland and Finland, while Kyle Walker was not selected by Carsley.

Grealish set to start after euros omission

Jack Grealish was left out of Southgate's final squad for Euro 2024 but, according to The Athletic, the Manchester City forward is set to start in Carsley's debut match in charge of England.

Grealish was included in the Euros preliminary squad, but was notably dropped alongside Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson for the tournament in Germany.

Grealish was in the Ireland ranks at a young age and represented the nation at youth level before switching allegiance to England and making his debut in 2020.

The report also suggests that Harry Maguire could return following the injury which kept him out of England's Euros campaign, with Chelsea defender Levi Colwill also expected to start.

Colwill was a key figure in Carsley's successful England U21s who won the European U21 Championship last year.

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