‘Ireland would’ve qualified for Euros if Grealish and Rice didn’t choose

Tony Cascarino believes the Republic of Ireland would have qualified for Euro 2020 if Jack Grealish and Declan Rice had decided to play for them.

Stephen Kenny was left to rue the cruelty of football as Ireland’s European dream was torn apart in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Slovakia.

Kenny, whose plans were disrupted shortly before kick-off when strikers Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah were withdrawn from the squad because they had sat too close to a member of the backroom staff on the flight over who later tested positive for COVID-19, saw his side very nearly win their semi-final in 90 minutes and again on extra-time.

However, they ultimately exited the competition 4-2 on penalties after Alan Browne’s spot-kick was saved and Matt Doherty’s came back off the crossbar.

Browne had come closest to winning the game in extra-time when his shot came back off a post, but Conor Hourihane had earlier passed up a glorious 85th-minute opportunity after skipper Duffy had cleared substitute Lukas Haraslin’s attempt off the line.

The Republic now face Nations League clashes with Wales and Finland before the players return to their clubs, but they headed back to Dublin wondering what might have been following the late reshuffle.

Cascarino, who made 88 appearances for the Boys in Green, believes having Grealish and Rice in the starting XI would have alleviated the heartache for those from the Emerald Isle.

The West Ham midfielder made the decision to represent the Three Lions in 2019, despite playing in three friendlies for the Boys in Green, while Grealish played for Ireland’s Under-21 side.

Cascarino said on the Weekend Sports Breakfast: “If we would have had either of them, or more likely Jack Grealish because he is more of a flair player and can change a game in a moment, we would have qualified.

“You know, that wrangles with a lot of Irish fans.

“They think, ‘If Jack would have chosen us, we would have got to major tournaments a bit more often.’

“So yeah, it does wrangle a lot for Irish fans.”