Declan Rice will wear England’s captain armband for the first time on Tuesday. The Arsenal star further cements his place as a key player in Gareth Southgate’s squad ahead of the European Championship.
Southgate Confirms New England Captain Ahead of Belgium Clash
A Wonderful Debut Campaign at Arsenal
It’s not easy to live up to expectations that a £105 million deal creates, but that’s exactly what Declan Rice has been doing since joining Arsenal. The 25-year-old has quickly found his place in the Mikel Arteta’s midfield setup, playing a key role in their push for the Premier League title.
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The former West Ham star has started all of Arsenal’s 28 Premier League matches so far this season, directly contributing to 12 goals. After finding his big break in the Premier League, he is now set to take a major step forward in his international career.
Declan Rice Reacts to Receiving England Armband
Rice first captained West Ham when he was only 20 years old but remained their second-choice skipper until Mark Noble retired in 2022. The midfielder has long been known for his leadership skills and now has the opportunity to showcase it at the international level.
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In a press conference ahead of England’s friendly match against Belgium, Gareth Southgate confirmed that Rice will start the game with the captain’s armband.
The “brilliant” Arsenal star, who is set to make his 50th cap for the national team on Tuesday, reacted to the news by saying (via Sky Sports): “I’m speechless, to be honest with you. I’m absolutely lost for words.
“When he said to me last night that I was going to be captain, I gave him a hug and shook his hand and said, ‘Thank you very much.’
“I owe him a lot. Since I’ve come into the team, he’s always made me feel at home. I’ve always felt comfortable playing under him and I’m really growing in confidence.”
Harry Kane linked up with the Three Lions early in the international break. However, the England captain couldn’t recover in time for the match against Belgium due to his ankle injury.
From Ireland Debut to England Captaincy
Declan Rice played for the youth ranks of Republic of Ireland before making his senior international debut for them in a match against Turkey in March 2018. However, less than a year later, an approach from England changed his mind and convinced him to continue his international career with the Three Lions.
Read More: How £105m Star Has Made an Immediate Impact at Arsenal
Gareth Southgate handed Rice his first appearance for England in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Czech Republic. The former West Ham star went on to score his maiden goal for the national team in their 4-0 win over Iceland on November 18, 2020.
By wearing the captain armband against Belgium, Rice reaches another career milestone ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
