Arsenal’s Declan Rice is going to be the focus of some attention when England take on the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League on Saturday afternoon.
Despite now having 50 caps for the Three Lions, the midfielder actually started his senior international career with Ireland. He won three caps for the nation in three friendly games in 2018.
After deliberation, he made the decision to switch his international allegiance to England in February 2019. FIFA rules allow players to switch with a written request as long as they have not played a competitive fixture.
"Like so many people around the world, I consider myself to be of mixed nationality,” Rice wrote in a statement at the time. "I am a proud Englishman, having been born and raised in London. However, I am just as proud of my family's Irish heritage and my affinity and connection with the country.
"I have equal respect and love for both England and Ireland and therefore the national team I choose to represent is not a clear-cut, simple selection. Particularly not for a young lad who never dreamed of being in this position.
"Ultimately, it is a personal decision that I have made with my heart and my head, based on what I believe is best for my future.
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"I fully accept that some Irish supporters will be disappointed by my decision, and that everyone has different opinions in regard to the rules around international representation. However, I hope that people can understand that I have made this decision with honesty, integrity and the full support of my family."
The decision did lead to some criticism of the rules and the decision back in Ireland. This week will be the first time that Rice has come up against his former international team since making the switch, and he, along with Jack Grealish, who was in a similar situation, are expected to be booed by the home fans.
But Rice has already showed his class when it comes to the responses to his decision. Earlier this year, Rice responded to comments from former Ireland teammate James McClean, who branded the midfielder as ‘overrated’.
The England man suggested that the comments may have come from the Irishman being unhappy with Rice making the switch. But he refused to be pulled into a war of words.
"It might be a bit of bitterness towards me not playing for Ireland but I’ve not got a bad word to say about him, to be honest," he said back in June. "I see the comments but I don’t try to put too much energy into it. It is what it is and you move on.
"Do you know what? I played with James for Ireland for three games and I got on with him really well. I am not going to sit here and slag him off. I thought he was a really top guy. When I left Ireland to come to England, I heard a few things he was obviously not happy about.
"He made comments a few years ago. I am not going to sit here and say anything about him. He’s had a great career himself - I think he is coming to the end of his career now and he’s got over a hundred caps for Ireland.
"It would be easy for me to sit here and say something back to him but, like I said, we are at opposite ends of our careers now - he’s 35 and I’m 25. I’ve known him, I’ve played with him, he’s entitled to his opinion and I’ve had to fight a load of those opinions from other people before."
