Declan Rice was alongside Gareth Southgate, moments after the England boss confirmed his 26-man squad for the Euros, with Jack Grealish left out of travelling party to Germany
Declan Rice is seeking the antidote for a painful condition with no known cure - winning the Euros with to make up for the anguish of missing out on the title.
Arsenal ’s £105 million linchpin admitted the Gunners’ near-miss with the Premier League crown was “really tough to swallow” last month.
But as the old man of England’s midfield - at 25, he is by far the most experienced player in Gareth Southgate ’s engine room - Rice is also relishing the responsibility of ending the Three Lions’ 58-year wait for major tournament success.
Little more than 12 months ago, Rice was lifting West Ham ’s first trophy in 43 years. Now he is England’s indispensable heartbeat, with Southgate cheerfully trying to solve his conundrum in the middle of the pitch as “Declan and who?”
Rice conceded that “life comes at you fast” as he absorbed the enormity of his career accelerating from jellied eel heartlands to the top table. But he admitted: “Straight after the end of the season, I said to to my mum and dad that the only thing that would get me over not winning the Premier League is winning the Euros.
“It was really tough to swallow that we missed out by only two points, but now there’s this beautiful opportunity in front of us to go and do something special.
“To do that I think would be one of the pinnacles of football, to win something for your country. There’s a long way to go, seven big games in a tournament, but my full focus is on that.
“I’ve obviously been in my first title race this season and I now understand the pressures and the big moments you have to go through. My respect levels were high but they went through the roof in terms of ( Manchester City ) winning four in a row.
“We have a lot of City boys here, a lot of boys who have played in big-level games. I think we can use that experience and take it into the tournament.”
Rice’s importance to Southgate was underscored when he realised Jude Bellingham (still only 20), Conor Gallagher (24), Kobbie Mainoo (19), Adam Wharton (20), Trent Alexander-Arnold (three months older but 26 fewer caps than Rice) will be his compadres in Germany.
He said: “When I saw the squad earlier, and I was the oldest one (in midfield), I didn’t really know how to take it. Obviously, it’s a midfield packed with excitement, full of energy and five or six players who are ready to go there and give it everything.
“There’s going to be a lot of question marks over the midfield and whether we have that experience. But I feel like now I’ve gained so much experience over the last two years that I can kind of guide the younger players in a way.
“They are also learning their own trade as well and some of the boys that are playing in the midfield have played in top-level games, high-pressure moments, so the Euros will be great test for everyone.
“It’s nice, for sure (to hear Southgate refer to his selection puzzle as Declan and who?) - I always want to be the best player on the pitch and there’s no guarantees with England.
“My aim now, like I said after my 50th cap, is to get 100 caps. I want to keep going. I know I’m going to be tested along the way, I know there are going to be youngsters pushing for my spot.”
Rice has added a tattoo to his shin showing his legacy number - 1241 - but he is a long way behind some of the game’s addictions to indelible ink and the artwork which turns so many Premier League stars into Sistine Chapel tribute acts.
He laughed: “I think most of the lads have one (legacy number tattoo) now to be honest, it’s such a special thing. When Gareth introduced it, you never realise the history you’re actually a part of when you play for England. It’s such a small number.
“It’s just nice to remind yourself and see it every now and then that you’ve been a part of some amazing history. Some of the best players ever have come out of England, so it was a proud moment for me to have the tattoo done.
“Good job I don’t have a sleeve or anything - my mum would go mad! That’s why it’s only a small one.”
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England Euro 2024 kit
Twelve of Southgate’s chosen 26 are going to their first major tournament, and there was no room for Jack Grealish and James Maddison, Rice’s two closest mates in the squad.
“Jack was in the age group above me but I’ve known him since we’ve been playing in the Premier League.
“I think the reason we get on so well is because our personalities are similar. He can light up a room and have everyone in stitches. He’s a top guy and I’m obviously gutted for him because he’s one of my best friends.
“But if you look back to the World Cup, half the group is not here now so it is different and now it’s about integrating together. That’s one of the best things about us as a group - we don’t have any egos here.
“We might look like an inexperienced team, but but we don’t feel that way. We feel like a side who are ready to do what we haven’t done in the last three tournaments.”
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