Declan Rice says England’s players ‘would do anything’ to protect under-fire manager Gareth Southgate.
Southgate – who took charge of his 99th Three Lions match in Sunday’s last-16 win over Slovakia – has been a lightning-rod for criticism of England’s below-par showing in their opening four matches of Euro 2024 in Germany.
Southgate’s side were seconds away from going out, and surely ending his era in charge, until Jude Bellingham’s spectacular 95th-minute overhead kick sent the game to extra-time, where Harry Kane’s header sent England through to the last-eight where they will face Switzerland.
🏴 England are quarter-finalists 👏#EURO2024 | #ENGSVK pic.twitter.com/03FuHW0Bc7
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 30, 2024
“I cannot describe the feeling representing England,” Rice told BBC Sport. “European Championship round of 16 you look up at the clock and you think ‘we could be going home here’.
“There are players saying to each other one minute to go and there is that inner fight and spirit in us.
“We have got that togetherness tonight, we would do anything to protect this manager. Keep going and keep fighting, it is an honour to be a part of it – we are going to keep going.”
Despite having had a quiet tournament by his high standards for Real Madrid, Rice hailed the impact of Bellingham, who turned 21 on the eve of the game.
“It was a big moment for 21-years old, that takes a lot of guts. People don’t understand what you have to go through to get over the line.
“We are not playing against invisible men. They are top footballers, they kept going after us. It is about waiting for those moments as the game got stretched we created more.
“The fans tonight I cannot speak highly enough of them. So grateful they are all here to experience that.”
