DORTMUND — Declan Rice insists that England’s players want win the Euro 2024 final for Gareth Southgate.
The England manager has been subjected to constant abuse and criticism on the way to guiding the men’s national team to a first major tournament final on foreign soil and successive European Championship finals. Southgate spoke after the semi-final of how tough it has been to deal with.
“We all want to be loved right?” he said. “When you’re doing something for your country and you’re a proud Englishman and you don’t feel that back it’s hard and when all you read is criticism, it’s hard.”
England will meet heavy favourites Spain in the final in Berlin on Sunday and Rice said: “It’s poised to be a great final and another great night.
“We’re back-to-back so hopefully now we can do it. Not only for each other but also for the manager. I think he deserves it.”
England lost the last final on a penalty shootout to Italy at Wembley and it has tormented Rice ever since.
“Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever,” he said.
“We are now presented with another opportunity where we can write our own history.
“We are up against another top side who we have to massively respect but we also have to enjoy these moments because in 15 or 20 years’ time when I look back, these are the nights I’ll remember.”
Southgate believes his side’s preparation and game-plan execution will have to be “perfect” if they wish to stand any chance of winning.
“They are a bloody good side,” he pointed out.
“Let’s pitch it right. We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us. But, we are in there and there is no question the big nights that a lot of this group have been together and this new group, that has formed so well and have learned so much from these six games already.
“And we have got players who have played lots of big matches so they will know what is required on the night but in the next couple of days we have got to get perfectly prepared as it is such a quick turnaround.”
There is some concern that Spain playing their semi-final a day earlier than England will give them an advantage.
“They have got a day longer and in the last three finals, maybe more, it has been quite significant so we have got to get our recovery spot on,” Southgate said.
“Tactically we will have to be perfect as they are such a good side.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/kXeyFS5
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