Blues duo Sammie Szmodics and Dara O’Shea started for the Republic of Ireland as they were beaten 5-0 in a final Nations League game of two halves against England at Wembley.

Ireland had impressed in the first period, preventing the Three Lions from managing a single shot on target.

However, the game changed in the 51st minute when Celtic’s Liam Scales was dismissed for a second bookable offence having brought down Jude Bellingham inside the box.

Harry Kane dispatched the penalty and England scored twice more within five minutes - via Anthony Gordon and Conor Gallagher - to all but seal the victory. Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis added the fourth and fifth.

Szmodics, who was winning his 10th full cap, suffered what initially looked to be a serious injury in the first half but the problem was ultimately revealed to be a cut and the 29-year-old was able to carry on until the 86th minute.

O’Shea, who was winning his 32nd full international cap, played the full 90 minutes at right-back and picked up a late yellow card.

The result had little impact on Ireland, who were destined to finish third in the group however the game ended, while England confirmed top spot.

Photo: Gareth Evans/News Images/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

MickMillsTash added 19:36 - Nov 17 This is possibly the best Ireland team for 8 years, but if they do anything other than play a deep 5-4-1 they are rubbish - Collins holds that team together. Looks like O'shea and Szmodics came through unscathed
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bobble added 22:08 - Nov 17 At least the wallabies won with a man sent off ...
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Oldsmoker added 00:26 - Nov 18 I've heard of Wayne Rooneys Derby and Frank Lampards Everton but for 2 of our players to be awarded a whole country is going some but congrats to both.
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wischip added 09:42 - Nov 18 Just glad they both came through unscathed. I was very worried when Szmodics went down injured for a long time with apparently a cut on his leg. O’Shea was busy. Ireland were doing ok with 11 men.
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Linkboy13 added 09:47 - Nov 18 Through Ireland were very poor against what was an England reserve team . Ireland against Wales would be a classic surely you wouldn't have to pay to watch that.
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SpiritOfJohn added 13:23 - Nov 18 No surprise to see VAR operating (or not operating) in favour of the big team in international as well as domestic football.
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blues1 added 13:35 - Nov 18 SpiritofJohn. What are you on about? Was nothing for var to get involved in .
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SpiritOfJohn added 14:22 - Nov 18 https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2Fsoccer%2Fcomments%2F1
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Robert_Garrett added 16:19 - Nov 18 Doesn't have to look pretty to get the job done. After the wad of withdrawls does it really matter any more?
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bobble added 09:23 - Nov 19 Spiritofjohn...so correct ,,a definate penalty and at the very worst a corner ,, but eire got nowt..the system is corrupt and the people running it corrupt and inept....
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bobble added 09:24 - Nov 19 Plus harry kane is an irishman, my uncle went to school with his cousins...
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