Declan Rice is ready for a 바카라pinch me moment바카라 when he captains England for the first time on Tuesday against Belgium. (More Football News)
The Arsenal midfielder, who will win his 50th England cap in the friendly, has been in great form for the Gunners since his club-record £105million move across London from West Ham last summer.
His fine season will continue when he leads his country out as skipper in front of a sold-out Wembley in the final match before manager Gareth Southgate names his 23-man squad for Euro 2024.
바카라Fifty caps is a pinch me moment,바카라 he said. 바카라It is going to be an honour tomorrow night and I바카라m really looking forward to it. I think I바카라ve grown so much as a player and a person since I first came into the group at 19.
바카라I was probably a bit of a nervous player when I first came into the England squad but as time has gone on, I바카라ve played more Premier League games, more games at higher levels, big major tournaments.
바카라I think I바카라ve grown into it in the side. I바카라ve enjoyed every single moment of it.바카라
Asked about Southgate바카라s decision to name Rice as captain in what will likely be a much-changed side, the former West Ham skipper added: 바카라I was speechless to be honest, absolutely lost for words, when he said to me last night I was going to be captain.
바카라I gave him a hug, shook his hand, and said 바카라thanks very much바카라. I owe him a lot. Since I first came into the team he바카라s always made me feel at home.
Fifty caps is a pinch me moment
바카라I바카라ve always felt so comfortable playing under him. I바카라ve really grown in confidence, for my 50th cap to walk out at Wembley in front of my family and friends, it바카라s an absolute honour, you can see it in my face, a bit speechless to be honest with you.바카라
Southgate handed Rice his debut in 2019, with the midfielder having already received three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland.
For the Kingston-born Rice, though, Southgate always saw a potential leader even from such a young age.
바카라Its his 50th cap, he has great leadership experience already at a tender age,바카라 he said.
바카라No question (he had leadership potential). You get a feel for a human being, and often their family play a big part in that.
바카라With Dec you could sense that stability, maturity in the decision-making process that he바카라s going through. And of course he바카라s led from a very young age at West Ham as well.
바카라He바카라s already gained some good experiences and I바카라m pushing him in that aspect as well. Because it would be easy to take a little step back as we바카라ve got a lot of older players here, but some of our young ones have got great leadership already.
바카라They바카라re more than entitled to be bossing the older ones round a little bit as well, and being demanding of them and of us as a coaching staff, and driving the team, he바카라s got all those qualities and the respect of everybody to do that.바카라
