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England face Ireland on Saturday and the game will have more meaning for Three Lions manager Lee Carsley and one of his players.
Carsley will take charge for the first time since taking the reigns from Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions get their Nations League campaign underway in Dublin.
Carsley is a former Irish international who led the England Under-21s to glory in the European Championship.
He made 40 appearances for Ireland during his playing days, taking advantage of the ‘Granny Rule’.
Carsley qualified for the Republic of Ireland national team through his grandmother, who is from Dunmanway, County Cork.
He will be overseeing a player who also has deep roots with Ireland, that being Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Rice, born and raised in London, was eligible for the Irish team because of the so-called ‘Granny Rule’ that allows footballers to play for the country of any of their ancestors up to their grandparents.
The rule was employed by former Ireland manager Jack Charlton, who made use of English players with Irish heritage.
Rice represented the Ireland internationally at both youth and senior levels prior to 2019.
He then changed his national allegiance and made himself available for selection by England, for whom he has been a key player ever since.
Rice made three appearances for Ireland and some have labelled him a traitor ever since.
The 25-year-old is not the first to make such a career move with Mark Lawrenson, Mick McCarthy and John Aldridge having all done the same.
Lawrenson, born and raised in Lancashire, qualified to play for England through his grandfather, Thomas Crotty, who was born in Waterford.
McCarthy was also brought up in England but went on to make 57 appearances for Ireland, taking advantage of the same loophole.
Liverpool legend John Aldridge was born on Merseyside but also played for Ireland as his great-grandmother was from Athlone,
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk