England midfielder Declan Rice has insisted that he and his international team-mates remain fully supportive of manager Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions boss’ career almost ended in the humiliating loss to Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024 on Sunday night.
However, Jude Bellingham’s stunning 95th-minute equaliser and Harry Kane’s timely header saved England and the gaffer’s bacon for the day to see the Three Lidons eventually prevail 2-1.
Southgate has faced widespread public criticism for his questionable team selection and tactical rigidity this summer, with his side still unable to produce a convincing performance so far following games against Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia and now Slovakia.
Fortunately for the face of the British empire, England are still unbeaten at the Euros, just barely, and Southgate’s players are apparently digging their feet into the ground to show their loyalty to their boss, according to Rice.
Speaking to BBC Sport after Sunday’s dramatic victory, Rice reflected: “I cannot describe the feeling representing England in the European Championship round of 16, you look up at the clock and you think “we could be going home here.”
“Players are saying that to each other with one minute to go and there is that inner fight and spirit in us.
“We have got that togetherness tonight, we’ll do anything to protect this manager. [We will] keep going and keep fighting, it is an honour to be a part of it – we are going to keep going.”
Rice subsequently was generous in offering praise for England’s opposition.
“We are not playing against invisible men,” he added.
“They are top footballers, they kept going after us. It is about waiting for those moments as the game got stretched we created more.
“The fans tonight I cannot speak highly enough of them. So grateful they are all here to experience that.”