Declan Rice has been called into England’s squad for the UEFA Nations League finals.
The West Ham United midfielder was named by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions’ semi-final with the Netherlands and potential final with either Switzerland or host nation Portugal in June.
Commenting on the call-up Declan said: “I am honoured to have been called up by England for a competition as important as the Nations League and, to be honest, I can’t wait to meet up with the lads and get cracking!”
“I really enjoyed my first experience of being in and around an England squad and working with Gareth and his staff, so to have kept my place for these matches is really special.
“It has been far too long since England won a trophy so, although it won’t be easy against teams as good as Holland, Switzerland and Portugal, we’ll go out there and do our best and I think we’ve got a great chance of winning the tournament.”
England take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes on Thursday 6 June and if they win will face Switzerland or Portugal at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto on Sunday 9 June. A defeat would mean a third/fourth-place play-off in Guimaraes on the same day.
All the best from CandH Dec!
Well done and well deserved Dec, hope he establishes himself as first choice CDM, on a side note have to feel sorry for Loftus-Cheek what the hell were Chelsea thinking playing a charity friendly in the States when they have a major European final coming ? Now the guy is facing a year out with ruptured Achilles if reports are true ?