Declan Rice is looking to rekindle the memories of Prague ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain this evening.
The former West Ham captain is one of a handful of England squad members who have the experience of lifting a European trophy when, alongside fellow Hammer Jarrod Bowen, he won the UEFA Europa Conference League last year.
Now Rice is hoping to use some of his experience from that wonderful night in Prague to help England lift their first trophy since 1966.
“Well, I can take confidence from winning a European trophy with West Ham,” said Rice.
“That was, to this day, one of the best days of my life, and there’s a chance to have that again. That final was brutal, tough, and like a rollercoaster. You know, going 1-0 up and then going 1-1 five minutes later, and then scoring a late winner.
“There’s so much that you can take. I think all finals are always tight, always tense.
“But it’s about being locked in for 90 minutes, 120 minutes, staying focused, and sticking to the process.
“And like we did at West Ham, and how the gaffer [Moyes] set us up that day, we exactly did that, and I’m sure that’s exactly how Gareth’s going to set us up.”
Never has a truer word been spoken, and if there is any manager capable of replicating David Moyes’ tactics, then it certainly is Gareth Southgate. However, all joking aside, it’s hard to argue with a game plan that has navigated England into another major final.