Declan Rice wants key improvements for England ahead of Euro 2024
England’s final pre-Euro 2024 match ended in disappointment, as the Three Lions fell 1-0 to Iceland at Wembley on Friday. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Gareth Southgate’s squad couldn’t break through the Icelandic defense after Jon Dagur Þorsteinsson’s 12th-minute goal.
Midfielder Declan Rice reflected on the game with palpable frustration. “It felt like we were chasing our tails,” Rice admitted post-match. His comments underline a crucial area for improvement: capitalizing on their possession advantage.
“Our quality on the ball is undeniable, but we need to be more mentally sharp against teams that sit back,” he told Channel 4 just minutes after the final whistle.
Rice noted the team’s need for better concentration and compactness. “At times, we were a little stretched and not as compact as we usually are,” he said. With just nine days until their Euro 2024 campaign kicks off, the urgency in Rice’s voice was evident. “Inside I’m hurting, and there’s work to be done before our next match.”
They know their strengths but also recognize the need for improvement in exploiting those strengths effectively. Rice’s honest reflection and clear-eyed critique suggest a team ready to put in the work necessary to go one better than their last major tournament outing.
Fans will hope that Rice and his teammates can translate this introspection into action, ensuring England not only dominate possession but also turn it into goals and victories when Euro 2024 begins.
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