Rio Ferdinand waxes lyrical of West Ham ace Declan Rice at Euro 2020
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has been subject to praise from former England defender Rio Ferdinand.
Rice has started in all of England’s games at Euro 2020 and has been one of the main reasons for them keeping clean sheets in every game.
When Gareth Southgate played a back four, Rice often dropped into the defence to form a three and against Germany when England played a back three from the outset, Rice controlled the tempo exceptionally with Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips.
During his punditry for BBC, Ferdinand duly praised the England midfield duo.
He said, “In that midfield area, Jordan Henderson is captain of Liverpool, he’s won the Champions League and Premier League, he’s being kept out by players like Rice and Phillips.
“They’re doing a tremendous job of screening the back three and when they get the ball they’re progressive.”
Phenomenal
Along with Phillips, Rice has been phenomenal for England this EUROs and it’s showing. The West Ham midfielder’s early days of playing as a centre-back are coming in handy as he can transition into a defender’s role seamlessly during play.
Last night when the Hammers were up against a fluid Germany attack, Rice stuck to his primary duties of shielding the back four and barring the Thomas Muller chance which was created because of a Raheem Sterling error, the Germans hardly had a sight at goal.
Rice was a tidy passer as the stats above reflect. Of his 43 attempted passes, he misplaced just two of them, and was one of the best players on the pitch.
He’s shown the maturity that comes to players after they’ve played in a handful of tournaments but this is Rice’s first international competition and he’s adapted to it like a fish does to water.
Keeping one of the world’s best midfielders in Toni Kroos at bay shows you that he’s not afraid of going toe to toe with world class players and he’s certainly on his way to cementing his spot as England’s defensive midfielder for the next few years to come.
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