DECLAN RICE INSISTS HE AND HIS ENGLAND TEAM-MATES ARE FULLY BEHIND GARETH SOUTHGATE AS ARSENAL STAR HAILS 'INNER FIGHT' THAT HELPED OVERCOME SLOVAKIA IN EUROS LAST-16
- England beat Slovakia 2-1 after extra time in the round of 16 at Euro 2024
- Declan Rice said after the game that the team were still behind Gareth Southgate
- LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: England don't look like a team... they've got away with one again
England midfielder Declan Rice has insisted that he and his international team-mates remain fully supportive of manager Gareth Southgate.
Southgate's career as Three Lions boss almost ended in a humiliating loss to Slovakia in the last-16 at Euro 2024 on Sunday night.
However, a stunning 95th-minute equaliser by Jude Bellingham saved the day and forced extra time, before Harry Kane scored to help secure a 2-1 win.
Southgate has faced widespread public criticism for his team selection and tactical rigidity this summer, with his side still yet to produce a convincing performance following games against Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia and now Slovakia.
However, England are still unbeaten at the Euros and Southgate's players are staying loyal 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 - who was involved in a post-game spat with Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona - later praised 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.'
Read more 2024-07-01T06:35:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd