CandH PlayerWatch reporter Danny Leach records the key moment in Declan Rice’s first full international in Montenegro and gives his overall verdict on the Hammers defensive midfielder
21 – Gives away a foul in the box after pushing Savic on the back from a corner
35 – Closes down Beciraj and blocks his shot as he cuts into the box from the left hand side
49 – Loses possession at left back but tackles the player immediately to win it back
55 – Blocks a potent shot from 30 yards out
61 – Mishits a pass but before Montenegro can start a counter attack he instantly tackles the player who took possession of the ball
Verdict – 7.5 – He did not disappoint on his full England debut and quite simply he was the heart of the England team. His passing, tackling and blocks were superb on what was a relatively comfortable evening against a resolute Montenegro. His ability to make the play tick and control the tempo of the game is astonishing for a guy of his age. Despite a few hairy moments he recovered very quickly. It will be a sight to behold when he gets the chance to play some of the top nations in the world.
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