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Declan Rice says he was “speechless” when Gareth Southgate announced that he would captain England against Belgium on Tuesday night.
Southgate informed Rice on Sunday night that he will lead England out at Wembley Stadium to commemorate Rice’s 50th international cap.
Rice discussed the emotional chat during his pre-match press conference at Tottenham Hotspur’s training complex on Monday afternoon.
“To be honest, I was speechless, absolutely lost for words, when he said to me last night I was going to be captain,” Rice added.
“I hugged him, shook his hand, and said thank you very much.” I owe him a lot. He’s always made me feel at ease, and I’ve always enjoyed playing for him. It’s a genuine honor, and you can feel it on my face.”
With Harry Kane out due to an ankle injury, Kyle Walker captained England against Brazil on Saturday. However, he walked off in the first half with a suspected hamstring injury and returned to Manchester City, while Harry Maguire also returned to his club following the 1-0 loss. With Kieran Trippier also sidelined, England has no senior leaders for Tuesday’s encounter, which is why Southgate has resorted to Rice.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity for some of our young players now to show leadership and to experience that, with some of our core group — Kane, Trippier, Walker, Maguire — not with us,” stated manager Gareth Southgate. “So there is a different feel to the group, a different dynamic; this is an excellent opportunity for others to stand up, lead, and progress. Many of the players on the roster right now are the team’s future in the medium and long term, and the more experience they can gain, the better for everyone.”
Declan Rice set to lead the Three Lions against Belgium in Friendly Clash
Declan Rice will be the first Arsenal player to captain England since Sol Campbell faced the USA in May 2005.
He made his England debut in March 2019, aged 20, after earning three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland. Southgate stated that he has always recognized leadership ability in him since that moment.
“First, I had to convince him that it would be a good decision,” Southgate said of Rice’s development. “That’s been born out by the tournaments we’ve been in, the huge matches he’s played in.”
“You get a sense of a person, and their family often plays an important role in that. Dec exudes steadiness and maturity in his decision-making process. Of course, he has also led West Ham since a young age.
He’s already had some positive encounters, and I’m pushing him in that direction as well. Because it would be easy to take a step back because we have a lot of older players here, but some of our young ones have great leadership already; they’re more than entitled to boss the older ones around a little bit as well, and to be demanding of them and of us as a coaching staff, and to drive the team; he has all of those qualities and the respect of everyone to do so.”
Rice has been in outstanding form this season, having moved from West Ham to Arsenal last summer.
The midfielder has become an essential member of Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title-chasing team. He has played 39 games in all competitions, scoring six and assisting seven.
