90min

Declan Rice keen to follow Lionesses' legacy in Euro 2024 final

  • England face Spain in Euro 2024 final on Sunday
  • Gareth Southgate's side looking to end long wait for silverware
  • Rice hoping to channel England Women's triumph at Euro 2022

By Tom Gott

Rice is hoping to use England Women's success as inspiration
Rice is hoping to use England Women's success as inspiration / Kaz Photography/GettyImages
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Declan Rice has admitted England are taking inspiration from the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph as they seek to get their hands on their own silverware this summer.

Gareth Southgate's side will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as they seek to win their first trophy since 1966 and live up to the legacy left behind by England Women's success just two years ago, when Sarina Wiegman's squad saw off Germany at Wembley to win the country's first major title in 56 years.

Having seen the likes of Leah Williamson and Beth Mead talking about the feeling of winning such a significant trophy, Rice admitted he wants to share in that success.

"We saw when the women won it, what it meant to them and the nation," Rice told the media. "I'm lucky enough now to see a lot the girls in the Arsenal squad that won it and to this day they talk about it.

"That's what we want now as a men's team. We want to win, making the nation proud, make the fans proud and create our own little bit of history."

England Wome
England tasted glory at Euro 2022 / JUSTIN TALLIS/GettyImages

Rice went on to thank England fans for their growing support in the side. A series of underwhelming performances early in the tournament threatened to sour the mood but Three Lions fans are back on board after seeing real improvement against both Switzerland and the Netherlands in the last two games.

"After the group stage it was tough. The boos, people chucking stuff on the pitch," Rice continued. "The way [Southgate] reacted with us after that, how calm he was even if he was feeling a different way, he made us feel calm.

"It felt like some people were saying negative stuff for the sake of it. Now it's changed in a way, which is really good. We respect everyone, all the ex-players who've put on an England shirt because they're part of that history as well. 

"Now we're feeling the love, feeling that confidence. Just keep with us, one more game and hopefully we can do something special and make memories for you all forever."

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