Declan Rice Takes England Captaincy On 50th Appearance And Ready To ‘Deliver History’ At Euro 2024 – News18

The milestones are coming round rapidly for Declan Rice.

Firstly there was the primary trophy of his profession, received with West Ham within the Europa Conference League last in May.

Then got here a giant-cash transfer to a number one European crew, with Arsenal paying $138 million for his providers in July.

And on Tuesday, there’s what he says might be a “pinch-me moment” — main England out as a captain in his 50th look for his nation.

How about ending the most important 12 months of his life by serving to to finish England’s almost 60-12 months look forward to a trophy?

For Rice, that might occur on the upcoming European Championship in Germany.

“It’s the talk of the town before every major tournament for England — that’s the pressure with playing for England,” Rice stated Monday. “But I think if you look at the players we have now, look at the level everyone is playing in terms of form, getting close at a World Cup in losing narrowly to France (in the 2022 quarterfinals), lost the Euro (2020) final. I think we are close now. We really are close.

“Going into this tournament now, we also have major winners, people who have been there and done it at the highest stage. It all counts on us at the end of the day. We’re the ones who have to go out there and perform and I’m sure we’re capable of going to Germany to deliver history.”

Rice wears his coronary heart on his sleeve and holds nothing again, whether or not it’s out on the soccer subject or talking in entrance of the media.

His face was an image when, sitting alongside Gareth Southgate at Wembley Stadium on Monday, the England coach stated the midfielder could be captain for the primary time in opposition to Belgium the next day.

“Speechless, to be honest with you,” stated Rice, beaming from ear to ear.

Southgate clearly sees the 24-12 months-outdated Rice as being prepared to maneuver into England’s core management group, becoming a member of the likes of normal captain Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire — all of whom are lacking Tuesday’s match due to harm.

Rice has taken his recreation to a different degree since becoming a member of Arsenal, displaying he’s able to enjoying because the holding midfielder or additional ahead as one of many No. 8s. He has already performed 45 video games for membership and nation this season and the massive ones are nonetheless to come back, with Arsenal nonetheless within the hunt for the Premier League and Champions League and England among the many favorites for Euro 2024.

Does he worry burnout? Not in any respect.

“I absolutely love it, to be honest with you,” he stated. “Every time you put on the shirt, for England or for Arsenal, it is an absolute honor and I want to play as many games as possible. … Hopefully I have a long list of trophies to come as well.”

A 1-0 loss to Brazil in a pleasant on Saturday was, nevertheless, a reminder that England is way from the completed article, even when Southgate does have a protracted listing of accidents to take care of. Indeed, the coach stated he has by no means seen something prefer it in his eight years within the job.

Southgate stated it a minimum of provides him an opportunity to take a look at some fringe gamers a couple of months out from the Euros they usually embrace Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is about to both begin or see a good quantity of enjoying time in opposition to Belgium.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)