Declan Rice has urged his England team-mates to “write our own history” in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, admitting he is still haunted by watching Italy lift the trophy at Wembley three years ago.
The Three Lions are one game away from ending the nation’s 58-year wait for a men’s tournament triumph, with an in-form Spain standing between them and European Championship glory in Berlin this weekend.
Gareth Southgate’s side were in an identical position at the last Euros, only to suffer an agonising penalty shootout defeat to Italy, and Rice believes the memory of that night can drive them to go one better this time around.
“Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever,” the Arsenal midfielder said. “We are now presented with another opportunity where we can write our own history.
“It is a game we believe we can win, so it is poised to be a great final. There is one more in our legs to give it absolutely everything for the boys, for the fans and for this manager. We are so desperate to do this and bring some happiness to the country.”
Thousands of England supporters are descending on Berlin, with early estimates suggesting that Spanish fans could be outnumbered by around two to one inside the capital’s famous Olympiastadion.
England’s ride to this point has been something of a rollercoaster, with Southgate’s men coming from behind to win all three knockout games in dramatic fashion: in extra-time against Slovakia, on penalties against Switzerland and through Ollie Watkins’s 90th-minute strike in Wednesday’s semi-final against the Dutch.
Seeing Italy lift that trophy at Wembley will haunt me forever
That knack for finishing strong is in contrast to previous tournaments, when England have famously struggled to kick on after taking early leads - a failing from which Rice insists they have learned.
“You couldn’t write it and to be part of it is so special,” the 25-year-old said of the team’s whirlwind journey this summer. “It started with Jude [Bellingham]’s overhead-kick, then the penalties, then Holland was a completely different challenge.
“We know now what we have to do, compared to last time in terms of how to control the game. Not to sit back like we did in previous tournaments and when Italy came onto us. We know how we can win this final which I think is a positive.”
Southgate’s future beyond the end of the tournament remains uncertain. The Football Association (FA) are keen for the 53-year-old to stay on, but his contract expires in December and it had been felt he was likely to walk away after this summer.
Already, Southgate has made history by delivering three semi-finals in four tournaments, winning as many knockout games as all of his predecessors combined and now leading England’s men into their first major final overseas.
Spain go in as favourites, having seen off France and hosts Germany in their last two games. Rice, however, believes England’s players owe it to their manager to deliver the elusive piece of silverware that would put him on a par with Sir Alf Ramsey, the World Cup-winning coach of 1966.
“I know the final is going to be a really tough game and hopefully someone else can write some history into the books,” he said. “We’re back-to-back [in finals] so hopefully now we can do it. Not only for each other but also for the manager. I think he deserves it.”
Before Euro 2020, Rice claimed he had never had a beer but would break his duck in celebration were England to go all the way.
“Since that time I’ve had a beer but I had it with a bit of lemonade,” he added. “If we win [on Sunday] I’ll have a proper beer. I’ll probably have to hold my nose as I hate the smell!”
