Declan Rice has warned that Spain are the “king of deathmatches” but insisted England will “break through walls” to win Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate's side are aiming to lift their first major trophy in 58 years on Sunday in Berlin but will face arguably the most impressive side in the tournament so far, given that Spain have won every game on their way to the final, including defeats of hosts Germany and France during the knockout rounds.
England secured a dramatic semi-final victory over the Netherlands thanks to Ollie Watkins' 90th-minute winner at the end of a match in which they had almost 60% of the possession.
Asked if England needed to repeat that feat against a Spanish side boasting Manchester City's Rodri and his ability to hold onto the ball under pressure, Rice said: “Yes, definitely. Before the game, we analysed the Dutch in midfield and they have top-class players. PSV's player of the year, [Joey] I think Veerman won the Dutch player of the year award. [Tijjani] I played against Reijnders at AZ [Alkmaar] And there was a lot of talk about how well they keep the ball.
“I never feel like we get so much love and so much recognition for how well we keep the ball. We've been doing really well lately, even against Switzerland.” [in the quarterfinals] We kept the ball very well in the final third.
“Against Spain, it will be necessary. We will have to play the ball, take some energy out of the game because, if you look at the last few years, Spain is the queen of football and passing, so we have to use all our experience and everything we have to try to control the game.
“We are players [Rice and Rodri] To those who constantly compare themselves. I think that's normal now, but I think we're two completely different players in my opinion and I'm sure he would say the same. It's not just about me versus him.
“We have reached great moments and we have not achieved it since 1966. [when England won the World Cup]Now we have a great opportunity for us as players and as a nation to take the next step and become champions.”
England had to play extra time against Slovakia and Switzerland (they had to resort to penalties to beat the latter) and have had one day less than Spain to prepare for the final.
But Rice said: “In the first few games I was more tired than I am now. As the adrenaline got higher, as the games got more intense, it gave you a little bit more energy, a little bit more enthusiasm.”
“I think right now, especially on Sunday, all of us are going to run against a wall to do whatever it takes to win this game, whether it's 90 or 120, we're going to give absolutely everything and that's all we can ask for.”
Rice admitted England will use the pain of losing the last European Championship final on penalties to Italy in 2021 as motivation and reiterated the importance of avoiding a repeat of that game.
Midfielders Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolò Barella gradually gained ground against England after going 1-0 down, equalising in the second half through Leonardo Bonucci and looking like the most likely winners in extra time.
“As for Euro 2020, it hurt me,” he said. “It still hurts me to this day. Seeing Italy come to our stadium and lift that trophy is something that stays with you as a footballer. But the beauty of football is that you have opportunities to create new memories. We have that opportunity now on Sunday. We know it's going to be difficult.”
“I think that in that final things got a little out of hand because in football everything is a question of numbers. We played with five defenders, they played with four, they had an extra man in midfield, they realised that and took advantage of it.
“Whatever line-up Gareth chooses in this final, I think we're all really confident that we can improve on the last final and show that we've learned what it takes to win a final.”
Rice also revealed that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had contacted him to wish him luck despite England facing his native Spain.
“Yes, I've spoken to Mikel,” the 25-year-old added. “It's been great. We had a phone call the other day. We talked for about 10 minutes. It was good. It was nice to talk to him, I hadn't spoken to him since the end of the season.”
“Then he texted me the other night saying:”come on“When we get to the final, I'm sure he'll be torn, obviously because he's Spanish, but he's also got guys in the team who are English. It's a tough situation for him, but he wished me all the best, so I'm happy about that.”
