Arsenal’s Declan Rice partnered Manchester United’s rising star Kobbie Mainoo in midfield as England claimed a lucky win over Slovakia at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate, for the third time this tournament, changed his midfield, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher previously deployed in those roles.
But this time, Manchester United’s FA Cup-winning teenager was handed his first start of Euro 2024, alongside Arsenal’s club-record transfer, with Jude Bellingham further forward, and it never made much of a difference.
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Yes, Micah Richards acknowledged that Kobbie Mainoo was one of England’s better players against Slovakia, but they were literally minutes away from getting knocked out.
Bellingham’s bicycle kick in stoppage-time took the round of 16 tie to extra-time and Harry Kane then headed in what turned out to be the winner.
The performance overall was as bad as the last, which is some going because England have been woeful all tournament long.
Southgate not only doesn’t have a clue from a tactical standpoint, but he doesn’t even know what his best midfield is.
That’s why Richards interestingly stated that he ‘feels a bit sorry’ for Rice because the Arsenal man is having to work with one partner, then the next and then another one, as he told The Rest is Football.
At the best of times, the Three Lions are boring to watch, so you can imagine how bad it is when the manager doesn’t know who to play where.
But, out of Alexander-Arnold and Gallagher, you could argue that the Manchester United academy product is the one who performed the best and he should keep his place for the quarter-final clash against Switzerland.
England beat Slovakia at Euro 2024
“I thought Mainoo did okay,” responded Richards on who did well for England. “He wants to receive the ball in areas. He has no fear and wants to drive the ball forward. The same as what we saw for Manchester United this season.
“I feel a bit sorry for Declan Rice. He has played a couple of games with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, so you are looking for relationships on the field. Gallagher and then Mainoo. It’s hard for him.
“Everyone is just saying ‘We will have Rice and Bellingham’. He needs that continuity to know what they want to do and how he wants to play. Although I didn’t think he had his best game Rice, it’s going to be difficult for him because he’s constantly having a different partner in there.”
Mixed performances from Arsenal’s Declan Rice at Euro 2024
On the club stage, whether he is playing as a number six or as a number eight, the task at hand is clear and he cooks like never before.
But at Euro 2024 this summer, he is clearly struggling and he just doesn’t look like the same player.
READ MORE: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka shares one-word reaction after dramatic England win
Whilst Arsenal fans will be screaming that it isn’t Rice’s fault, they are correct because Southgate has managed to make Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Bukayo Saka and others look pretty average.
That’s some going given the variety of talent those players have in their boots and how unbelievably good they performed at club level last season.
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