England Struggle with Fitness Ahead of Euro 2024, Declan Rice Speaks on Player Pressure
Gareth Southgate has suggested that his England team may lack the physical levels required to execute his gameplan at Euro 2024, while Declan Rice has opened up on the pressure the players are feeling.
The mood in the England camp was heavy on introspection and soul-searching after their 1-1 draw against Denmark in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Southgate expressed concerns over the fitness of several starting players, including captain Harry Kane, who have not completed many full games in recent weeks and months.
“We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity,” Southgate said. “We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition. We can’t press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the qualifiers, for example. And we are not keeping the ball well enough. We have to keep the ball better and build with more control.”
Declan Rice acknowledged the intense pressure the players are facing, saying, “We are all so desperate to do the country proud. We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories for lifetimes.” However, he also suggested that the players might be putting too much pressure on themselves, stating, “Sometimes I maybe feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves where we could just go out there and let it just take care of ourselves.”
Despite the draw against Denmark, England remains in a strong position to qualify for the last 16 as Group C winners. Southgate expressed confidence in his players, saying, “I am seeing every day that they are loving working together. I don’t think it is a lack of spark. At the moment, they ironically care too much and they need firm leadership.”
As England prepares for their final group game against Slovenia, Southgate and the team will be working to address the physical and mental challenges they face in their quest to win the Euro 2024 championship, a feat that has never been achieved before by an England team.
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