Declan Rice is reminiscing about a crucial moment in his season, particularly during a time when doubts loomed over Arsenal’s stability. This significant period unfolded during a narrow and heart-wrenching defeat to Manchester City in mid-April, which left both teams vying for the Premier League title. Momentum seemed to sway in City’s favor, leading many to wonder if Arsenal would stumble.
As the cameras captured Rice at the Etihad Stadium, his body language conveyed defiance, as he was seen shaking his head, clearly stating: “It could have gone either way,” Indeed, it wasn’t. Arsenal went on to win every subsequent league match, enduring the mounting pressure while City faltered, ultimately claiming the championship for the first time since 2004. “That would have lived with me for ever.” Rice recalls with a smile. “I’ve got enough of them. Luckily, it went the way I wanted it to be perceived, even though it was crazy how that all came about.”
This moment resonates with the iconic phrase by Steven Gerrard, “There’s going to be moments where we have setbacks, where we have to get through,” from 2014 when Liverpool was in a similar position to claim the title but ultimately fell short. “It’s going to be tough and we need to be ready for everything that comes.” Rice agrees. “It’s hard because when you play against low blocks you have a structure the manager wants you to play in,”
As England prepares to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the World Cup’s Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, Rice underscores the reality that paths to greatness are never linear. Challenges are a given, as are moments of self-doubt. Ultimately, it boils down to resilience and the ability to find a way through adversity.
This is a pivotal moment for England at the World Cup. Rice finds himself part of what could be regarded as the most formidable midfield trio in international football history—especially with Elliot Anderson’s impending £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City nearing completion. Rice’s own move from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023 cost £105 million, while Jude Bellingham’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid was valued at £88.5 million, potentially escalating to £115 million with add-ons. Rice believes the trio is ready to display their abilities, although they require opponents willing to engage aggressively. Unfortunately, that was not the case in the second and third group matches against Ghana and Panama, particularly against Ghana, and expectations are similarly low for the DRC.
England fans breathed a sigh of relief upon learning their team would face the DRC instead of Senegal, who not only defeated England in a friendly last June but carries a more formidable reputation. Despite this, the DRC performed commendably during the group stage, managing a 1-1 draw with Portugal and narrowly losing to Colombia before securing a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan.
The DRC features several players with Premier League experience, such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Noah Sadiki, and Yoane Wissa. England’s first knockout match in the tournament could turn into a test of endurance. Rice intends to leverage his experiences at Arsenal, knowing this will challenge their mental fortitude.
“And sometimes you have to do something for the good of the team, even though you feel like you don’t want to do it because you feel a bit stuck. You have to do it because it might help out a teammate. “When you look at the quality that we have across the whole squad, you would say: ‘Right, how are we not scoring four or five?’ But Ghana were incredibly well drilled and so were Panama. The boss [Thomas Tuchel] was saying they’re the same ranking as Wales and Serbia; they’re not terrible opposition. It’s down to us to break down these low blocks and to be patient. “It’s tough but this is the World Cup. I understand the heat [on England], I understand how teams have a way of playing against us and [it is] anything to win, I suppose. We need to find ways to keep counteracting that.” he states. “It [the nerve pain] is strange because you can just feel it like sitting there,”
Rice has faced intense defensive setups recently, a challenge Arsenal also frequently encounters, often leading to less than aesthetically pleasing solutions. These situations have attracted criticism, and a similar narrative could be applied to England. However, as Rice reflects on the themes of realism and sacrifice, he recognizes the true meaning of achieving ultimate success.
“It’s not a pain that happens [just] during football. You could be sat at home and you’d feel a little pain shoot up your leg. I’ve managed it in a good way, trying to get my rest when I can and prioritising games. When you play that many [club] games, you’re hardly training. It’s just: recovery, games, recovery, games. “I played the Champions League final, had a week completely off‑feet, where I did nothing, and then I got myself back into a rhythm. The body had a little bit of a shock. That’s why I started to feel the pain a little bit [against Croatia] because towards the end [of the season] it was starting to ease off. It’s just something I’ve got to keep managing. Once this season’s done, I’ll get my rest and I’m sure I’ll go into next season fine.” he explains. “We had a great chat the other day at the hotel in Kansas City,”
“We were sat outside on the beanbags. I said to Elliot that he can’t control the price he’s going for. But why he’s going for that price is because he’s been one of the best players in Europe this season. The price tag is just noise. I said: ‘Go to City, do what you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine.’ Elliot wants the ball and if he doesn’t get it he has a little dig at you. He’s one of the best I’ve played with.”
“I look at this group now and I don’t think there’s a better crop of penalty-takers that England have probably ever had,”
Rice’s journey has been tumultuous, shifting from the jubilation of winning the Premier League to the disappointment of Arsenal’s penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
He has also been grappling with nerve pain in his hamstring, an issue that has lingered since Christmas and forced him to leave the field in the 72nd minute during England’s World Cup opener against Croatia.
After completing a full match against Ghana, he experienced a
