Declan Rice shares the heartfelt reason for choosing not to celebrate his goal against Ireland.

Declan Rice revealed that he chose not to celebrate his goal against the Republic of Ireland out of respect for his Irish grandparents.

The Arsenal player faced a hostile welcome in Dublin during England’s Nations League match, having switched his allegiance in 2019 after initially representing Ireland in three friendly matches.

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When Rice scored to give England an early lead in the 12th minute, the crowd’s booing intensified. However, he remained composed, raising his hands in acknowledgment as his teammates celebrated around him.

The second goal for England came from Jack Grealish, who had previously represented Ireland in youth levels, and it was assisted by Rice. In their eventual 2-0 victory, Rice later expressed that he felt it was important to honor his Irish roots and those who supported his career during his time with Ireland.

He shared with talkSPORT, « You could see we thrived off that atmosphere. We experienced something similar in Scotland last September, and these are the games you want to be part of. »

« Of course, the crowd was going to direct a hostile reception at me and Jack, but we can handle it. We’ve made our choices seven years ago, and it’s now time to move on. I’ve been playing for England for five years, and so has Jack. »

« I’ve got Irish family, including my nan and granddad, and that’s why I didn’t celebrate. It felt disrespectful considering my past with Ireland. »

Despite the charged atmosphere, he described the day as positive, noting it was important to take everything in stride, especially considering the significance of the goal for Grealish after his summer challenges.

However, talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy expressed a different viewpoint, believing Rice should have been more exuberant after scoring. He stated on the GameDay Phone-In: « Declan, celebrate your goal! You’ve faced boos the whole first half. When you score, show some pride! »

« Do what Grealish did. Embrace your time with England and celebrate scoring for your country. There’s no need to apologize. You represent just one country at a major tournament, and that’s something to be proud of. »

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