Football

‘Driving me mad’ – Souness slams Rice following Euro 2024 final defeat and believes Kane was not helped by England team-mates

Graeme Souness has slammed Declan Rice after claiming he only completed one forward pass in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

England reached back-to-back European Championship finals but were beaten 2-1 by Spain after Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner.

Rice played every game for the Three Lions on their run to the final but former Liverpool player and manager Souness was left unimpressed by the Arsenal midfielder’s performance against Spain.

“England were at their best when they went a goal behind,” Souness told William Hill’s Three Up Front podcast.

“All of a sudden they started taking risks. They had to be braver and risk making a mistake, risk passing it forward or trying to play someone in. Instead they were just going sideways or backwards and it was driving me mad in the final, as it had done the whole tournament.

“I did some research and found that Declan Rice only completed one forward pass against Spain. One completed forward pass in 90 minutes for a midfield player… that’s impossible.”

England boss Gareth Southgate resigned following the final defeat, with Graham Potter and Eddie Howe currently among the favourites to take over.

Harry Kane’s underperformance was also highlighted as a factor behind England’s lack of consistency at the European Championship but Souness believes the striker was not helped by his team-mates.

“If a conversation had taken place between Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane where he dropped Kane because he felt he was underperforming, then I think Harry would’ve agreed with him,” he said.

“However, Kane was not the same player that he’s been for a number of years where he has been the go-to man.

“If I were him I’d be pointing to the fact that he doesn’t get enough service. No one passes to him, he comes short for the ball and doesn’t receive it. The England midfield is non-existent and they were non-existent in the final against Spain. He’s struggled because of that just as much as he’s struggled because of any lack of form or fitness.

“He was getting no service whatsoever. He was getting bullied off the ball because it wasn’t being given to him quick enough. I have sympathy for him.”

FEATURED IMAGE: RICHARD PELHAM/GETTY IMAGES VIA ONE FOOTBALL

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