Gareth Southgate has confirmed Declan Rice will captain England for Tuesday night’s friendly at home to Belgium.
Rice is in line to win his 50th senior cap for the Three Lions at Wembley and is set to skipper the team in the absence of usual captain Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich striker has withdrawn from the squad due to a hamstring injury, while his stand-in – Kyle Walker – sustained a hamstring problem early on in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday.
Walker handed the armband to Harry Maguire when he limped off the field, but the Manchester United centre-back has also withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
At a press conference on Monday, Southgate announced Rice would be the one to wear the armband and lead England out against Belgium.
“I’m speechless, to be honest with you,” a beaming Rice said. “I’m absolutely lost for words.
“I think when he [Southgate] said to me last night I was going to be captain, I gave him a hug, shook his hand and said, ‘thank you very much’.
“I owe him a lot. Since I’ve first come into the team, he’s made me feel at home, I’ve always felt so comfortable playing under him and I’ve really grown in confidence. So on my 50th cap, to walk out at Wembley in front of my family, my friends, it’s an absolute honour. I think you can see it by my face!”
Rice made his first England start five years ago on Monday and has become a lynchpin in Southgate’s midfield, while he has since won a European trophy as West Ham United captain and earned a £105m move to Arsenal.
“I think I’ve grown so much as a player and a person since I’ve come into the group at 19,” Rice added. “I was probably a bit of a nervous player when I first came into the England squad.
“But as time’s gone on, I’ve played more Premier League games, more games at higher levels, big major tournaments.
“I think I’ve grown in stature in this side and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it. 50 caps is a ‘pinch me’ moment. It’s going to be an honour tomorrow night and I’m really looking forward to it.”
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