Declan Rice is ready for a “pinch me moment” when he captains England for the first time on Tuesday against Belgium. (More Football News)
The Arsenal midfielder, who will win his 50th England cap in the ꧃friendly, has been in great forඣm for the Gunners since his club-record £105million move across London from West Ham last summer.
His fine season will continue w🍷hen he leads his country out as skipper in front of a sold-out Wembley in the final match before manager Gareth Southgate names his 23-man♓ squad for Euro 2024.
“Fifty caps is a pinch me moment,” he said. “It is going🤪 to be an honour tomorrow night and I’m really looking forward to it. I think I’ve grown so much as a player and a person since I fir๊st came into the group at 19.
“I was probably a bit of a nervous player when I 💯first came into the England squad but as time has gone on, I’ve played more Premier League games, more games at higher levels, big major toඣurnaments.
“I think I’ve grown intꩵo it in the side. I’ve e𝔍njoyed every single moment of it.”
Asked about Southgate’s decision to name Rice as captain in what will likely be a much-changed side, the former West Ham skipper added: “I was speechless to be honest, absolutely lost for words, when he sai🍒d to me last night I was going to be captain.
“I gave him a hug, shook his hand, and said ‘thanks very much’. I owe him a lot. Since I first ca🎃me into the team he’s always made me feel at home.
Fifty caps is a pinch me moment
“I’ve always felt so comfortable playing under him. I’ve really grown in confidence, for my 50th cap to walk out at Wembley in front of my family and friends, it’s an absolute honour, you can see it in my face, a bit speechless𓄧 to be honest with you.”
Southgate handed Rice his debut in 2019, w⛎ith the midfielder having already received three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland.
For the Kingston-born Rice, though, ♓Southgate always saw a potential leader even from such a young age.
“Its his 50th cap, he has great leadership experience already at a tender age,”🧸 he said.
“No question (he had leadership potential). You get a feel for a human being, and often their family play a big part in thaꦺt.
“With Dec you could sense that stability, maturity in the decision-making process that he’s going through. And of course he’s led from a very yo♐ung age at West Ham as well.
“He’s already gained some good experiences and I’m pushing him in that aspect as well. Because it would be easy to take a little step back as we’ve got ♏a lot of older players here, but some of our young ones have got gr🌠eat leadership already.
“They’re more than entitled to be bossing the older ones round a little bit as well, and being demanding of them and of us as a coaching staff, and driving the team, he’s got all thos𓆏e qualities and the respect of everybody to do that.”
