DECLAN RICE urged England’s critics to think before they speak.
Harry Kane reminded the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer that they never won anything in a Three Lions shirt in a press conference this afternoon.
And Rice, 25, echoed his skipper’s comments as he called on pundits to get behind the team.
Asked if he was disappointed with the criticism of England’s Euro 2024 campaign, he told ITV: “No, I’m not disappointed because I’ve played football long enough now, I know how they work.
“That’s why I really do not get bothered about it at all.
“Look, they’re entitled to their opinion, they’re on the TV. They’re saying whatever they want.
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“I know some of them personally, they’re great guys, but like I said, they’ve been in our shoes as well.
“Sometimes just to have that thought of process, just before they speak that they have been where I’m sat and where our other players have sat and not done well at tournaments.
“So look… I don’t know why we feel like it’s such a negative thing. We’re talking like we’re going out the tournament here.
“We’re top of the group, we need to stay positive, stay upbeat.
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“Let’s have some positivity going into games.
“Let’s give players the best confidence in the world. Your players like your Phil Fodens, your [Bukayo] Sakas, your Jude Bellinghams. Tell them they’re the best players in the world.
“Make them read that and think, ‘I’m going to go out there and perform and give it absolutely everything’.
“Rather than reading the negative comments, [having it] sitting on their mind and then thinking that they can’t play a certain way. That’s the way I think about it.
“I’m sure we have enough of them people as well which is good.”
Lineker called England’s performance against Denmark “s**t” and Kane decided to make his voice heard.
He said: “I’d never want to be disrespectful to any player, especially a player that’s worn the shirt and knows what it’s like to play for England.
“What maybe ex-players, ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise, it’s very hard not to listen to it now, especially for young players who are not used to it or some players are new to the environment.
“I always feel like they have a responsibility, I know they’ve got to be honest and have their opinion but they have a responsibility as an ex-England player that a lot of players looked up to, people do care about what they say and do listen to them.
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“Everyone has got their opinion, but the bottom line is we haven’t won nothing as a nation for a long, long time and a lot of these players were part of that, and they know how tough it is.
“It’s not digging anyone out, but it’s just the reality that they do know it’s tough to play in these major tournaments and tough to play for England.”
Who is Euro 2024’s sexiest star?
EURO 2024 has something for everyone from stunning goals, thrilling matches… and the continent’s biggest hunks, writes Jack Figg.
Several stars have lit up the group stages with their skills on the pitch – but others are also catching the eye for their looks.
But who is the sexiest?
Thankfully AI boffins have carried out an analysis on the facial attractiveness of all players at the tournament.
And it’s bad news for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions who are the fourth UGLIEST in the competition – one place below Scotland.
In fact it’s England’s group rivals Serbia who have fans swooning the most – boasting an average score of 77.90/100 with defender Strahinja Pavlovic deemed their most attractive.
While Turkey defender Mert Muldur has been ranked as the tournament’s BEST-LOOKING player.
But who is England’s sexiest star, and who makes the Euros’ hunkiest XI? Read our full story.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
