The prospect of facing Luka Modric holds no fear for Declan Rice following the huge steps he believes he has made in his own game. Rice admits that three years ago he would not have got close to the skillful former Tottenham man but times have changed.
Declan Rice said: “Then, I was miles away from Modric. But I’ve got stronger, bigger, more confident and I really want to put myself up against him. He’s a world-class player but it doesn’t faze me at all. And hopefully, as we progress, we start to face the top, top teams, the world-class teams like France. You always want to play against those players.”
England take on Croatia on Sunday at 2pm in the opening game of Group D and Rice is in confident mood ahead of the tournament.
Declan Rice said: “I feel like I have come out of my shell playing for England. It took me the first couple of games but as I’ve got more confident, like with [getting] the [captain’s] armband at West Ham, I took it into England to have no fear. On the pitch I’m vocal. I try to show my leadership – whether that is even just a chat, I try to help.”
After the clash against Modric’s Croatia, England take on neighbours Scotland and for once West Ham manager David Moyes will be hoping his star man is on the losing side. Moyes, a proud Scot, has let Rice know for months where his loyalties lie in that match.
Declan Rice said: “He used to come up to Jesse Lingard and me in the gym and batter us, saying: ‘You two better not be playing against Scotland,’ winding us up.”
Following the Scotland match England take on the Czech Republic where Rice will come head-to-head with his Hammers midfield partner Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal. Soucek cannot wait to take on England and having been part of the first Czech team to ever beat the Three Lions, the 26-year-old is in bullish mood.
Tomas Soucek said: “That match will be a special moment for West Ham supporters because I will be playing against Declan. We’ve spoken about it – he told us that we can’t win at Wembley and we said, ‘Well, remember your last game against us!’ It’s been fun, it’s been friendly. Only the 90 minutes on the pitch will be unfriendly, perhaps.”
