Declan Rice
Stuart Pearce has lavished praise on Declan Rice but is confident there is even more to come from the 22-year-old for both West Ham and England. West Ham coach Pearce has first-hand experience of working with Rice and believes that the defensive midfielder is more than capable of playing higher up the pitch and adding goals to his game.
Stuart Pearce said: “I think the same can be said at West Ham at times, we feel as though he has got more to his game than just as a sitting midfield player. At West Ham, we have needed a player to operate in that role but you never know going forward there might be an opportunity. We feel as though he has got the technique to score goals, he certainly has the energy and drive to surge past people for both club and country.”
One of Rice’s strengths according to Pearce is how well he carries out the manager’s instructions. If Rice has not been marauding forward for England that is because Southgate has told him not to, believes the Hammers coach.
Stuart Pearce said: “The good thing about Dec is he will practice whatever you ask of him, he is not a selfish player he will do whatever the team needs. I still feel as though both for club and country he has more [to give] and the ability to get at least five or ten goals a season from midfield from a deep-lying midfield role or certainly starting there and surging forward. He is undoubtedly a team player and his pride in representing his country is there for all to see. He is very, very mobile as well in front of the backline, which will be very helpful going forward not just in this tournament, but beyond that. He is a really good athlete, strong, he is is six foot one, six foot two. I think he’s got a little bit of everything, he is decent in the air and can deal with the ball well, so I just think it’s just a case of how his game evolves, with a bit more experience I can only see him getting better.”
Rice and midfield partner Tomas Soucek could find themselves freed up a little more at the London Stadium next season if the Hammers bring in another central midfielder during the summer transfer window. However, Pearce is more than happy with the Hammers midfield duo and the partnership they have forged.
Stuart Pearce said: “He [Rice] is aware of the role David [Moyes] asks him to play at West Ham where we need him to be the sitter, him and Tomas [Soucek] smell it [the danger] quite well. I think the pair of them if we could, we would like to get both of them in more advanced areas because certainly, Tomas Soucek can score a goal as he’s proved this year, and we feel as though Declan can. However it evolves we don’t know, it depends what happens in the transfer market. But we certainly know whatever you ask of Declan, because of the nature of the player he is and the ability he has got, he can deliver whatever you want from him.”
Despite all the many attributes Rice brings to both England and West Ham Pearce is confident there is more to come and is aiming to help the midfielder reach his full potential.
Stuart Pearce added: “He is not the finished article by any means, the Hammers coach said. But I think he realises that, and as a group of coaches, whether it be national coaches or club coaches, if we can keep pushing him that will be all well and good. He has all the ability to be a top-quality international. He is playing for England at this moment in time, he has been a regular pick for England for a couple of years now and it is down to him how far he wants to go.”
Another quality of Rice’s Pearce mentioned was his ability to learn from his mistakes, something that may come in useful if England and Germany goes the distance and the tie ends in a penalty shootout. Rice missed his last spot-kick, hitting the post for West Ham against West Brom, but Pearce is confident if it comes to it the midfielder will step up and hit the back of the net. When asked if the miss will play on Rice’s mind.
Stuart Pearce said: “I think not,When I was at West Ham a couple of years ago, he made the odd mistake which led to goals, I think one was away to Swansea and one was away to Arsenal and what I like about him is he is happy to not shy away from any adversity that he has had on the pitch. He embraces it and uses it as a way to learn, so I think if anything [the penalty miss] it will sharpen his focus to want to get better and want to do better. I get the impression with Dec, he is not a shrinking violet.”
England boss Southgate was part of the ’96 squad and it was his missed penalty that proved the difference between England and Germany in the semi-final 25 years ago. A failure Pearce believes means England are well prepared for a shootout this time around should it be required.
Stuart Pearce said: “Make no mistake Gareth will know exactly who his best penalty takers are and if you are on the bench you’ve got a chance of getting on the pitch. It [being brought on] is a vote of confidence I would say, if anything it is [saying] look we trust you score a penalty.”
England supporters may dread taking Germany on in a shootout but Pearce is backing the Three Lions should it come to that
Stuart Pearce said: “I think this England set up will probably be as prepped on penalty taking as any nation probably in the world.”
The West Ham coach was sitting on the fence when it came to a prediction saying that it could come down to who copes with the pressure best.
Stuart Pearce said: “I think it’s going to be a really tight affair. I don’t think it will be more than one goal either way that is for sure. It’s a really difficult one to call with who can handle the occasion.”
