In the first round of the UEFA B League, England defeated Ireland with a score of 2-0. After the match, England midfielder Declan Rice was interviewed by Sky Sports, expressing his views on two key scenes in the match.
First, talking about his decision to refuse to celebrate when facing the Irish, Rice showed deep respect and gratitude. He mentioned that he had made three appearances for Ireland, an experience that meant a great deal to him. He emphasized that due to his family background - relatives on his dad's side, including his late grandmother and grandfather, are Irish - he was unable to celebrate against the Irish. Rice said that it was a great time playing for Ireland and those memories will never fade, both in the first team and at all levels of the youth ranks. He wished the Irish team all the best, demonstrating his deep understanding and respect for the soccer bond between the two countries.
Rice then spoke about his own decision to refuse to take the captain's armband when Kane went off during the game, instead recommending Stones as captain. He explained that although Kane wanted to give him the captain's armband, he felt that Stones was more experienced than himself and better suited to lead the team at this crucial time. Rice said that he believes that Stones is the more senior player and usually captains the team even when Kane is not present, so he thinks that the decision was the right one. Rice's move shows his humility and reasoning, and he understands that he should choose the most suitable person to lead the team at a crucial time.
