FOR Declan Rice and England, it is win or bust in Qatar.
In just under three months, boss Gareth Southgate’s men take to the field for their opening Group B game against Iran, on November 21.
There is a feeling that Southgate’s reign has been building up to this competition ever since he took the job back in 2016.
In that time, the former defender has transformed a toxic and underperforming nation into one to be proud of, from the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, to last summer’s Euros final.
Gone are the days where the Three Lions can rely on the words ‘progress’ and ‘improvement’ at a major tournament.
And lifting the World Cup is the only way the 51-year-old’s time in the hot-seat — and his current crop of players — will be viewed as truly successful.
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Asked if it is win or bust in Qatar, West Ham midfielder Rice said: “Yes. I think the expectation and demand is that we need to deliver.
“We just need to win something because of the players we have — and the experience now.
“There is expectation that we are all together in one team and we should be winning something, too right.
“There have been massive signs of improvement since Gareth walked in.
“The World Cup semis, Nations League semis, Euros final and now this World Cup is coming up. We know what is required now in a tournament — but it will always come down to winning or failure.
“That’s what the public will put it down as, so we know it is up to us to win.”
It is a quick turnaround from last year’s Covid-delayed Euro 2020 to a first-ever winter World Cup.
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Rice, 23, added: “The whole world’s eyes are on you for a World Cup.
“There will be a lot of scrutiny, criticism, but as a player you need to be able to take that and play in big-pressure games.”
But pressure is something Rice is already accustomed to.
Since being named Mark Noble’s successor as skipper, the Hammers have lost their opening three Premier League games, with Rice now expected to lead from the front on and off the pitch.
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And whether he likes it or not, he is a mainstay and central figure to Southgate’s England plans.
Rice added: “I am playing with players who have won Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues.
“I have not won anything yet. You learn from those players on and off the pitch, how they got to that level.
“I am still young. It is still good to even get called up.”
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Southgate’s standing was dented by this summer’s four winless Nations League outings, which included a 4-0 home defeat to Hungary.
But Rice said: “You cannot dwell on the past. Look at Italy, they won the Euros and then didn’t qualify for the World Cup.”
Declan Rice has teamed up with EE on the Connected Club Cup, a new Esports FIFA competition which saw grassroots gamers across England battle it out to become the Connected Club Cup champion.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
