declan rice set to captain england against belgium on 50th appearance
Published on: March 26, 2024.
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Rice to Captain England in Final Friendly before Euro 2024 Squad Announcement
Declan Rice is set to lead England as captain for the first time in their final friendly match before manager Gareth Southgate announces the squad for Euro 2024. This milestone comes at a time when Rice has not only reached 50 caps but has also been instrumental in West Ham’s victory in the Europa Conference League last season. Following his record-breaking £105 million move to Arsenal, Rice has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout players, contributing to the Gunners’ title push and their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
The 25-year-old midfielder acknowledges the influence of several players who have shaped his leadership abilities, including Bobby Moore, the captain of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966, Mark Noble, his former captain at West Ham, and Martin Odegaard, the current leader at Arsenal. Rice expresses his gratitude towards these individuals for their guidance and emphasizes the importance of learning from experienced players like Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson when he is with the national team.
As Rice assumes the role of captain for England, he reflects on his journey and acknowledges the impact of his time at West Ham. He recognizes the honor of joining a select group of individuals who have captained their country and considers it a special moment to wear the armband for England.
While Rice is fully focused on captaining England, Arsenal faces a crucial match against Manchester City in a contest that could significantly impact the outcome of the Premier League title race. Rice acknowledges the significance of the upcoming clash and shares an amusing anecdote about his England teammate, John Stones, who seemed unaware that their teams would be playing against each other. Rice highlights the different approaches players take in separating themselves from football during their downtime and mentions the banter shared among teammates.
