The Lee Carsley era draws to a close on Sunday evening as England face the Republic of Ireland in their final 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group game.

Carsley’s first game as interim boss came against the country he represented as a player, and Irish fans in Dublin were forced to watch on as Jack Grealish and Declan Rice, who earned three Ireland caps, scored in a routine 2-0 win for the Three Lions.

England are now aiming to top Group B2 after avenging a historic defeat to Greece in October with an impressive 3-0 win in Athens on Thursday night. Victory over the Irish on Sunday will see them avoid the play-offs next March and automatically return to League A for the 2026/27 Nations League.

While Ireland have no hope of earning promotion, they at least enter Sunday’s game in high spirits after Evan Ferguson’s goal handed them a 1-0 win over Finland in Dublin. The visitors are on the hunt for their first victory over the Three Lions since Euro ’88.

Here is 90min’s guide to England vs Republic of Ireland.

England vs Republic of Ireland H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Carsley’s been forced to deal with mass withdrawals this month, and Jarrad Branthwaite, who was called up as a replacement, became the latest to pull out of the squad ahead of Thursday’s game. Rice, Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Aaron Ramsdale, and Phil Foden are the others to withdraw.

Record goalscorer Harry Kane took issue with the exodus and will want to return to the starting XI on Sunday after losing his place to Ollie Watkins, who opened the scoring, against Greece.

Lewis Hall could replace Rico Lewis at left-back and make his first England start, while Angel Gomes was an unused substitute on Thursday and could come into Carsley’s midfield.

Ezri Konsa was forced off at half-time against Greece and is unlikely to play on Sunday, so we could see Taylor Harwood-Bellis make his Three Lions bow.

England predicted lineup vs Ireland (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Guehi, Hall; Gomes, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

Heimir Hallgrimsson was dealt a triple injury blow ahead of Ireland’s November fixtures, with captain Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, and Adam Idah absent from his squad.

Ryan Manning, Jake O’Brien and Matt Doherty have been drafted in as replacements, with Doherty starting against Finland on Thursday. Manning came off the bench.

There’s unlikely to be many changes from Ireland’s midweek triumph, with Ferguson, despite a quiet 18 months, operating as the visitors’ primary threat.

Ireland predicted lineup vs England (4-4-2): Kelleher; O’Shea, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; Ebosele, Cullen, Knight, Johnston; Szmodics, Ferguson.

England sauntered to victory in the reverse fixture, and although Ireland head into Sunday’s fixture off the back of a well-earned triumph, the hosts should have too much for their neighbours at Wembley.

The Three Lions’ dire defeat to Greece in October has proven to be a blip as opposed to the norm under Carsley, who’s brave team selection paid dividends in Athens.

The Irish will aim to soak up pressure and threaten on the counter-attack as Greece did ever so successfully last month, but England’s performance on Thursday suggests they’re better stocked to deal with the visitors’ attacking potential. Expect another routine Three Lions win.

Prediction: England 2-0 Republic of Ireland

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