Declan Rice has been branded "useless" by ex-Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart, after a lacklustre showing in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
- England succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Spain
- Rice struggled to assert himself in midfield
- Van der Vaart questioned his £105m price tag
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Despite the stinging critique, Rice had been one of England's standout performers in the early stages of the tournament with his defensive prowess and ability to control the midfield turning out to be pivotal as the Three Lions progressed through the knockout stages. However, the final saw Rice and his teammates struggle to match Spain's intensity and tactical discipline.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Rice, who moved from West Ham to Arsenal for a hefty £105 million ($136m) fee, has been a crucial part of Mikel Arteta's squad. Last season, he was instrumental as Arsenal came close to winning the Premier League and made a deep run in the Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals. However, Rice and Kobbie Mainoo were outplayed by their Spanish counterparts Rodri and Fabian Ruiz at the centre of the park during the Euro 2024 final, which saw the Three Lions struggle to get a foothold in large chunks of the match. Rice's underwhelming display in such a crucial game has drawn ire, with Van der Vaart's comments highlighting a broader sense of disappointment.
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WHAT VAN DER VAART SAID
Speaking to NOS, Van der Vaart remarked: "€100M for Declan Rice. What does he do? He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth €100M, then you should be able to play a ball forward."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout England's Euro 2024 campaign, Rice was a constant presence, playing every minute of their matches. However, different midfield partners across the games might have affected his output and consistency. Trent Alexander-Arnold began the tournament alongside him, followed by Conor Gallagher, and eventually Mainoo. A few tactical tweaks, including the introduction of Mainoo, brought some improvement, notably in Rice's performance against Switzerland. However, in the final, the Arsenal midfielder just wasn't just good enough.
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