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Moyes claims West Ham player has been ‘brilliant’ at the World Cup and could easily play another position
West Ham United manager David Moyes has paid tribute to the performances of his captain Declan Rice at the World Cup.
Rice has started every game as England have reached the quarter-finals, where they will face France in a huge game on Saturday night.
Moyes was asked to contribute for a piece in the about Jude Bellingham, who has played alongside Rice in midfield in Qatar and is grabbing the headlines.
The Scot was keen to point out his skipper, who he says could easily maraud forward like Bellingham or Jordan Henderson but plays a disciplined role for the good of the team.
Moyes on Rice
Moyes said: “I’ve been enjoying watching (Bellingham) work so well with Declan Rice. Dec is doing a brilliant job.
“He has been asked to be almost England’s water carrier and is fulfilling that duty with great discipline.
“He has all the attributes to go forward like Bellingham and Jordan Henderson and could easily play as a number eight but has been sitting in front of the defence, making sure he is not caught out of position, taking up positions where it’s hard for opponents to mark him, and making ball recoveries.
“His selflessness is allowing Bellingham freedom to express himself.”
Moyes makes a point which is often forgotten for England; Rice is playing further back than he does for his club, showing great discipline in the process.
Rice has been looking to add more to his game, pushing forward at club level, but for England it is better for the balance of the team that he holds the fort a bit more and he does that expertly.
Perhaps in years to come, if a natural anchorman emerges, Rice and Bellingham can bomb on together for England but right now, the Hammers captain is the man who hangs back at gives the Borussia Dortmund man licence to go and win games.