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Ian Wright and Roy Keane disagree with what ITV presenter said about Arsenal’s Declan Rice during Euro 2024 final
Both Ian Wright and Roy Keane leapt the defence of Arsenal star Declan Rice in the run down of England’s Euro 2024 final defeat on Sunday evening.
Gareth Southgate’s side ultimately came up short, unable to make the most of talent possessed by the likes of Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Both were excellent for their country across the tournament in Germany, arguably transpiring as Southgate’s two mos♏t important performers.
Particularly wh🍸en Kobbie Mainoo came off against Spain, Rice was playing in a single pivot in England’s midfield, tasked with coping with three opposition counterparts.
Rice never faile🌳d with his industry, thwarting several ༺Spanish attacks, although he didn’t enjoy his most effective game with the ball.
In truth, when Rice did suffer aไny shortcomings it felt resultant from England’s shape, a player being asked to do too much.
That being said, Rice did have one chance to mak🤡e a huge difference late on with two heade🔯d chances on Unai Simon’s goal.
Ian Wright refuses to blame Declan Rice for missing England chance
In the 90th minute of the 2-1 defeat, Rice managed to get on the end of Luke Shaw’s header only to see his effort saved – England’s last s🌺ignificant chance.
Marc Guehi t✤h༺en saw another effort blocked from the rebound, only for Rice to then levy a third headed-effort for England on goal, which flew over the bar.
Reflecting on the moment, presenter Mark Pougatch asked both Ian Wright and Roy Keane iꦏf they felt Arsenal star should have done a lot better wit꧟h the chance.
Both immediately defended the Arsenal midfielder, saying th✅at Pougatch was🎉 being very ‘harsh’.
The presenter originally asked: “Do you think that Declan Rice s🦂hould have done better with that header from that corner?”
Wright replied: “He hit the target, Mark. I think you are being har�෴�sh there.”
Keane agreed: “I think you are being harsh.”
Pougatch: “It was a question, that’s my job.”
And whilst it’s easy to over scrutinise these individual moments, England failed to win Euro 2024 ൩because of their below-par game plan, not because of these tiny margins.
Rice and his teammates survived on small glimpses of inspiration a🌳nd perhaps even fortune, the polar opposite of Spain who won all seven of their games deservedly.
And🅺 in the continued post-mortem of events in Berlin, perhaps some will feel that England do need a new director.