Declan Rice is at a pivotal juncture in his season, one that many anticipated could present challenges for him and Arsenal. Following a narrow defeat to Manchester City in mid-April, both teams found themselves locked in a tight race at the top of the Premier League, prompting doubts about Arsenal’s ability to maintain their lead. With momentum shifting in City’s direction, concerns arose: was Arsenal on the brink of slipping away?
Television cameras captured Rice on the pitch at Etihad Stadium, his expression revealing his determination; he was easily lip-read stating, “It could have gone either way,” Indeed, it wasn’t. Arsenal went on to win all their remaining league fixtures, successfully navigating intense pressure while City stumbled, leading Arsenal to secure the championship for the first time since 2004. “That would have lived with me for ever.” Rice reminisces, smiling. “I’ve got enough of them. Luckily, it went the way I wanted it to be perceived, even though it was crazy how that all came about.”
This moment draws parallels to Steven Gerrard’s well-known “There’s going to be moments where we have setbacks, where we have to get through,” remark from 2014, made as Liverpool approached the title, just before they unexpectedly lost their grip. Rice acknowledges, “It’s going to be tough and we need to be ready for everything that comes.”
As Rice and the England squad prepare to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the World Cup Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, he recognizes that the path to remarkable achievements is seldom straightforward. Challenges, stress, and skepticism are to be expected. The pursuit often relies on resilience and the ability to find solutions, no matter the circumstances.
Rice believes this is the current state of England at the World Cup. He is part of what could be considered the most valuable midfield trio in international football history, especially with Elliot Anderson’s anticipated £116m transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City. Rice himself made a £105m move from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023. Jude Bellingham’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid that same summer was valued at £88.5m, potentially rising to £115m with add-ons. Rice is confident that the trio is ready to display their potential, should they face opponents willing to press high and engage directly. However, that was not the case in their second and third group matches against Ghana and Panama, particularly against Ghana, and no one within the England camp expects a different approach from the DRC.
England supporters expressed relief upon learning their team would face the DRC instead of Senegal. Senegal not only defeated England in a friendly last June but also has a more prominent reputation. However, the DRC demonstrated their capabilities during the group stage, managing a 1-1 draw against Portugal and narrowly losing to Colombia. They proved to be formidable opponents before triumphing 3-1 against Uzbekistan.
The DRC boasts several Premier League players, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Noah Sadiki, and Yoane Wissa. England’s first knockout match of the tournament is expected to be a fiercely contested affair. Rice plans to draw on his experiences with Arsenal, as this will test their mental fortitude.
“It’s hard because when you play against low blocks you have a structure the manager wants you to play in,” he states. “And sometimes you have to do something for the good of the team, even though you feel like you don’t want to do it because you feel a bit stuck. You have to do it because it might help out a teammate. “When you look at the quality that we have across the whole squad, you would say: ‘Right, how are we not scoring four or five?’ But Ghana were incredibly well drilled and so were Panama. The boss [Thomas Tuchel] was saying they’re the same ranking as Wales and Serbia; they’re not terrible opposition. It’s down to us to break down these low blocks and to be patient. “It’s tough but this is the World Cup. I understand the heat [on England], I understand how teams have a way of playing against us and [it is] anything to win, I suppose. We need to find ways to keep counteracting that.”
Rice has become accustomed to facing closely packed defenses, a recurring challenge for Arsenal, often yielding unsatisfactory results. Both teams have faced scrutiny, and Rice notes a similarity with England’s current predicament. While discussing the necessity for realism and sacrifice, he recognizes the value of ultimate vindication.
“It [the nerve pain] is strange because you can just feel it like sitting there,” he explains. “It’s not a pain that happens [just] during football. You could be sat at home and you’d feel a little pain shoot up your leg. I’ve managed it in a good way, trying to get my rest when I can and prioritising games. When you play that many [club] games, you’re hardly training. It’s just: recovery, games, recovery, games. “I played the Champions League final, had a week completely off‑feet, where I did nothing, and then I got myself back into a rhythm. The body had a little bit of a shock. That’s why I started to feel the pain a little bit [against Croatia] because towards the end [of the season] it was starting to ease off. It’s just something I’ve got to keep managing. Once this season’s done, I’ll get my rest and I’m sure I’ll go into next season fine.”
“We had a great chat the other day at the hotel in Kansas City,”
“We were sat outside on the beanbags. I said to Elliot that he can’t control the price he’s going for. But why he’s going for that price is because he’s been one of the best players in Europe this season. The price tag is just noise. I said: ‘Go to City, do what you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine.’ Elliot wants the ball and if he doesn’t get it he has a little dig at you. He’s one of the best I’ve played with.”
Rice has gone through a whirlwind of emotions; the joy of winning the Premier League title followed by the disappointment of Arsenal’s penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. He has also been dealing with nerve pain in his hamstring, an issue that has lingered since Christmas, forcing him off the pitch in the 72nd minute of the World Cup opener against Croatia.
He managed to complete the match against Ghana but suffered a “I look at this group now and I don’t think there’s a better crop of penalty-takers that England have probably ever had,” afterward, which “I look at Harry [Kane], Ivan [Toney], Marcus [Rashford], Anthony Gordon, [Bukayo] Saka. I can take one. Jude, as well. You hear the stat about how you have to win a penalty shootout to get to a final or win the tournament, so you know that might come along. We’re going to be fully prepared for that.” and caused him to miss the Panama game. This was the first time since Euro 2020 that Rice was absent from an England starting XI at a tournament, breaking a streak of 21 consecutive matches.
“It [the nerve pain] is strange because you can just feel it like sitting there,” Rice describes. “It’s not a pain that happens [just] during football. You could be sat at home and you’d feel a little pain shoot up your leg. I’ve managed it in a good way, trying to get my rest when I can and prioritizing games. When you play that many [club] games, you’re hardly training. It’s just: recovery, games, recovery, games.”
“I played the Champions League final, had a week completely off-feet, where I did nothing, and then I got myself back into a rhythm. The body had a little bit of a shock. That’s why I started to feel the pain a little bit [against Croatia] because towards the end [of the season] it was starting to ease off. It’s just something I’ve got to keep managing. Once this season’s done, I’ll get my rest and I’m sure I’ll go into next season fine.”
Rice assures that the calf issue is not a concern, and Tuchel will be glad to have him back for the match against the DRC, especially since Anderson appeared isolated at times during the Panama game. Bellingham, who played as a box-to-box No 8, will revert to the No 10 role. Rice’s partnership with Anderson has blossomed since they began playing together for England last September, and he is well-positioned to offer guidance on navigating record-breaking transfer fees, having previously admitted to struggling after his own move to Arsenal.
“We had a great chat the other day at the hotel in Kansas City,” he shares. “We were sat outside on the beanbags. I said to Elliot that he can’t control the price he’s going for. But why he’s going for that price is because he’s been one of the best players in Europe this season. The price tag is just noise. I said: ‘Go to City, do what you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine.’ Elliot wants the ball and if he doesn’t get it he has a little dig at you. He’s one of the best I’ve played with.”
Rice’s confidence is palpable, reflecting his ongoing development and determination to achieve his ambitions. He recalls feeling apprehensive before taking a penalty in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final shootout against Crystal Palace last December, although he successfully converted it. When he faced PSG, he displayed only confidence and decisiveness. Should England find themselves in a penalty situation in the coming weeks, Rice believes they would be formidable contenders. For him, the outcome is clear.
“I look at this group now and I don’t think there’s a better crop of penalty-takers that England have probably ever had,” Rice asserts. “I look at Harry [Kane], Ivan [Toney], Marcus [Rashford], Anthony Gordon, [Bukayo] Saka. I can take one. Jude, as well. You hear the stat about how you have to win a penalty shootout to get to a final or win the tournament, so you know that might come along. We’re going to be fully prepared for that.”
