Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have both expressed their admiration for Jack Grealish’s exuberant celebration after scoring against the Republic of Ireland in Saturday’s Nations League match.
During the encounter at the Aviva Stadium, Grealish and Declan Rice faced a hostile reception from the Irish fans. The duo had previously represented Ireland—Grealish at youth level and Rice in senior friendlies—before switching allegiance to England. Their decision to play for England was met with significant disdain from the local supporters.
Despite the frosty atmosphere, Grealish and Rice both found the net in England’s 2-0 victory. Rice scored the opener in the 11th-minute but chose not to celebrate, acknowledging his Irish connections with a respectful gesture. In contrast, Grealish’s goal in the 26th minute was met with a passionate celebration as he punched the air in delight, further fueling the ire of the Irish fans while delighting the traveling England supporters.
Shearer and Lineker, both esteemed figures in English football, praised Grealish’s decision to celebrate. On The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer remarked, “I loved Grealish’s attitude. He said, ‘sod that, I’m going to celebrate.’ I understand why Declan chose not to, but Grealish was having none of it. I loved it.”
Lineker echoed Shearer’s sentiments, adding, “Why wouldn’t you celebrate? I totally get why Declan didn’t celebrate, given his history with the Republic of Ireland. He definitely didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
Micah Richards, Grealish’s former Aston Villa teammate, also weighed in, highlighting Grealish’s own connection to Ireland. Richards remarked, “Grealish played for Ireland at youth level too!” prompting Shearer to respond, “Brilliant celebration, loved it all day. Tell him ‘well done,’ Micah!”
Lineker, England’s former record goal-scorer, further noted that Grealish’s celebration was akin to “rubbing salt into the Irish wounds.”
In his post-match interview, Grealish acknowledged the anticipated reaction from the Irish fans but stressed that there were no hard feelings. “It was exactly what me and Dec expected. I mentioned before the game that it would be different,” Grealish explained. “Me and Dec have no bad blood. We both enjoyed our time with Ireland, and I have a lot of Irish in my family, so there’s no animosity from my side.”
Grealish’s celebration, while controversial, underscored his passion and the emotional intensity of the fixture, earning the praise of his peers and adding another memorable moment to his career.
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