- Declan Rice has warned England that they must sort out their tactical plan
- The Three Lions put in an underwhelming display in their 1-1 draw with Denmark
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Why Harry Kane is NOT the problem for England
Declan Rice has fired a blunt warning that England will be ‘picked off’ in the knockout rounds of Euro 2024 if they cannot come up with a better plan to win the ball high up the pitch.
Captain Harry Kane made the astonishing admission after Thursday’s dismal 1-1 draw with Denmark that the players ‘weren’t quite sure’ when to press or who should do it. It asks serious questions of Gareth Southgate’s coaching, with Rice revealing England’s players felt ‘outnumbered’ against the Danes.
‘The further we go (in the Euros), we’re going to play against better opposition, more world-class players, and if you don’t get your press right, which is the most important thing on the pitch, you’re going to get picked off,’ said Rice.
‘We work on our pressing all the time. When you’re a back four playing against a 5-2-3, the way you press is obviously going to be difficult, because they have an extra player at the back and we are outnumbered.
‘We have the extra man at our end, so it’s about getting that balance of when we can press and when we cannot.’
Rice also revealed England’s players are feeling the pressure of expectation after the Denmark display drew stinging criticism from former internationals Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.
‘We are all so desperate to do the country proud,’ said the Arsenal midfielder. ‘We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories for a lifetime. Sometimes, I feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves.
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‘Speaking after the game as a team, we know we can be better collectively. But look — two games, one win, one draw. Our objective is always to qualify and I’m sure we can still do that.’
Senior England players pleaded with their team-mates not to panic after Thursday’s dreadful performance.
Mail Sport understands they made a particular effort to ensure the squad stayed calm in the dressing room after England were booed off.
Around half of the group are participating in their first major tournament and the senior stars stressed the importance of not allowing negativity to seep into the camp, with morale described as ‘stable’.
Nevertheless, there is a sense among the players that Southgate will change the starting XI for the final Group C game against Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday. Trent Alexander-Arnold was substituted early in the second half and his deeper midfield role could go to Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton.
‘We’ll have a look at everything,’ said Southgate when asked about changes.
There are fears in the camp that Kane’s game is being hampered by a back problem, although Southgate insists his striker is injury-free.
The manager also urged his team to embrace the growing scrutiny following their lacklustre start. ‘We have to accept the level of expectation, we have to accept the arena we are in, and we have to find a better way of playing,’ he said.
‘They are running, they are giving everything, but at the moment the emotion and the way we are playing isn’t calm in the moments we need it to be. To go to the stages of the competition that we want to end up in, that has to be better. We know that.
‘We’re in an intense arena and have to walk towards the challenge and understand what it is and play in a more composed manner.’
Luke Shaw missed training again yesterday. The Manchester United defender has not played for five months due to a hamstring injury. England’s medical team had hoped Shaw would be fit enough to come off the bench against Slovenia, but if he misses Tuesday’s game his participation in the rest of the tournament would be in greater doubt.