England’s midfield engine Declan Rice says the team is ready to “run through a brick wall” for Euro 2024 glory.
The Arsenal midfielder has played every minute of England’s campaign so far and will surely start against Spain tomorrow.
But he will be up against the likes of Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo – and will need to be at his best alongside teenage midfield sensation Kobbie Mainoo.
Rice has covered more distance than any other player in the tournament so far and nobody has recovered the ball more times.
And he says he’s ready to step up in Berlin.
“The first couple of games, I was feeling more tired than I am now. As the adrenaline kicked in more, as the games ramp up, it gives you that extra bit of energy, extra bit of fire,” he said.
“I think now. especially on Sunday, all of us will run through a brick wall to do anything to win this game – whether that’s in 90 or 120 [minutes] – we’ll give absolutely everything and that’s all we can ask for.”
And he believes it won’t just be grit that could see England over the line, as he praised the way his teammates now keep possession.
“I never feel like we get that love and that credit about how well we actually keep the ball,” he said.
“We have been doing that really well of late, even against Switzerland, we kept the ball really well in the final third.
“Against Spain, it is going to be needed.Â
“We’re going to need to take touches, take the sting out of the game because Spain – if you look over the years – are the kings of killing football matches and passing the ball so we need to use all our experience and everything we’ve got to try and control.”