After drawing with Denmark in their second group game at Euro 2024, Declan Rice stated that England might be putting excessive pressure on themselves. Despite sitting at the top of Group C, England’s performance in the 1-1 draw received criticism, adding to the scrutiny following their narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia in the opener.
Striving for Glory Amid High Expectations
The England squad, which reached the final in Euro 2020, is keen to end the country’s 58-year wait for a major trophy. Rice emphasized the team’s desire to make the nation proud, but manager Gareth Southgate suggested that the players might be overly concerned with their quest for success. “We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories for lifetimes and 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,” Rice commented. He acknowledged the need for improvement both in and out of possession, viewing it as a positive challenge.
England entered the tournament in Germany as one of the favorites, buoyed by recent strong performances and outstanding seasons from key players like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka. However, the match against Denmark, where England failed to capitalize on Kane’s 18th-minute goal, was deemed “baffling and concerning” by former England defender Rio Ferdinand, reflecting the post-match criticism.
Navigating External and Internal Pressures
Rice highlighted the intensified pressure due to the stellar seasons enjoyed by some of their star players. “I think there is probably more pressure now from the outside just because of the seasons some of our players have had,” Rice explained. He noted the impressive goal tally of over 100 goals among their front four, which naturally raises expectations given their status as some of the world’s best players. This pressure extends across the entire team as they compete in a major tournament representing England.
Rice concluded by acknowledging the inherent pressure that comes with playing for England on such a significant stage, stating, “There’s going to be that pressure. This is England [at] a major tournament. But this is our job and this is what we have to deal with.” The team remains focused on managing this pressure as they strive for European glory.
