Declan Rice has hit back at claims that England’s stars aren’t fit enough to perform at Euro 2024, despite the fact Gareth Southgate suggested this was a mitigating factor for their poor display against Denmark.
The Three Lions have endured an underwhelming start to the tournament in Germany, narrowly beating Serbia 1-0, before they struggled against the Danes last Thursday and drew 1-1.
They have been heavily criticised from a variety of angles for their performances, with Gary Lineker describing the display against Denmark as ‘s***’.
This led to several players fighting back, including the likes of Harry Kane, who lashed out at ‘people with podcasts’ in a passionate call to arms on Sunday.
And Rice, who shone against Serbia but struggled against Denmark, also slammed England’s critics ahead of their game with Slovenia on Tuesday.
Declan Rice has hit back at claims England’s stars aren’t fit enough to perform at Euro 2024
England have come under much criticism after two underwhelming displays at the tournament
When pressed by ITV’s Gabriel Clarke whether the Three Lions are physically fit enough to carry out the gameplan Southgate wants, Rice said: ‘Yes of course. Of course we are.’
The Arsenal star laughed at the question before he added: ‘Oh yeah it’s been ridiculous (that our fitness has been questioned). Let them keep questioning it.
‘Honestly, we are built to play these types of seasons. Because we’re sitting in a low block people automatically assume that we’re tired and you know, we’re leggy, or that we’re not fit enough to run around.
‘If we weren’t fit enough then we shouldn’t be here. We shouldn’t be football players if we can’t compete for 90 minutes.
‘So yeah, we are fit enough.’
The question towards Rice came after Southgate was pressed on England’s passive display against Denmark.
Speaking after the game on Thursday, he had said: ‘We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity.
‘We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition. We can’t press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the qualifiers, for example.
‘And we are not keeping the ball well enough. We have to keep the ball better and build with more control.’
Rice’s comments came despite Gareth Southgate hinting that England’s lack of energy levels was the reason for their passive and underwhelming display against Denmark last Thursday
It came after several pundits, including the likes Gary Lineker, had criticised the Three Lions
If England beat Slovenia and finish top of Group C then they will likely next be in action on June 30.
As group winners, the Three Lions would be expected to play one of the best third-placed finishers from Groups D, E or F.
Currently the teams in those positions are Austria, Czech Republic or Slovakia, yet this could all change in the final round of group fixtures.
But if England were to finish second in their group, they would be drawn against Germany in the last-16 stage.
