Red card tips scales as ruthless England run riot

Ten-man Ireland were hammered 5-0 by England following a second-half collapse at Wembley Stadium.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side battled through a scoreless opening half, however, the floodgates opened following Harry Kane’s opening goal from the penalty spot eight minutes after the break.

Liam Scales was sent off for a second booking after the concession of the spot-kick, before a turbo-charged England quickly added two more through Anthony Gordon and Conor Gallagher.

Lee Carsley’s side were not finished, however, and two more goals arrived from substitutes Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis before the final whistle as Ireland ended their 2024 calendar with a whimper at the London venue.

A heavy military exercise ahead of the game stirred the patriotism in all sections of the stadium, which led to the disappointing, yet expected, mutual disrespect for the national anthems.

And as expected, England burst out of the blocks with a ball over the top for Noni Madueke setting out their stall. Nothing from it but four minutes later, the Chelsea man was again attacking on the right.

Madueke skipped all too easily along the byline, and while his drilled cross was cleared, it allowed Curtis Jones to follow up with a well-hit shot that was deflected for a corner. Kyle Walker connected with a decent near-post header from the subsequent set-piece, but it flew over.

Early warning shots for Ireland, who were already camped along the edge of their own box with Festy Ebosele finally offering respite in the seventh minute as he took the ball out along the right flank.

But England kept the attack going, and Jude Bellingham was next to have a look at goal with; the shot blocked, the shout for handball waved away.

In the 12th minute, two Szmodics