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Rice prepares for Nations League match v Spain
14112026
Metropolitano Stadium
14112026
Metropolitano Stadium
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00:07Good evening, everyone. Welcome here to here in Madrid with Declan Rice ahead of tomorrow's
00:11UEFA Nations League fixture between Spain and England. As ever, we can keep it to two
00:16questions per person. Then we'll have Thomas Tuchel in shortly after. We'll start with
00:21Rob Dorsett here in the middle.
00:28Dec, great to see you.
00:29Hey, Rob.
00:30In the last six months, you personally have played in some huge football matches, a Champions
00:35League final, a World Cup semi-final. You're now here playing the world champions in their
00:39own backyard. How does this compare?
00:43It's a massive game. I don't think you can probably get much bigger than a Champions League
00:47final, a semi-final against Argentina. But I think when you're playing against the world
00:51champions in Spain, it's a great initiative to go out there and want to win. And that's
00:57been the messaging all week. Beat Croatia, come to Spain, put on a really good performance,
01:02win the game and try and top the group. So it's one we're going to be ready for tomorrow
01:06night.
01:07It feels to us like this game is going to kind of, this performance as well as the result,
01:13I think, is going to have a big impact on how the supporters feel about where England are
01:16right now, post-World Cup. Is that how you see it? Kind of one that's going to reiterate
01:21maybe where you are in the pecking order of world football right now? Or are we overthinking
01:25it?
01:26Yeah, I think every time we play for England, you know, we're going to be questioned over
01:30the performances. I think the Bachelor games last month were incredible. Some really,
01:34really good performances. The other night was an okay performance. We know we've got
01:39more gears to go through. And tomorrow night, I think you're going to bring out the best
01:43in us. I think as players, these are the games you want to play and you want to
01:46play against the best teams, the best players. And we have players that thrive to them,
01:50them occasions. So for sure, I think tomorrow night's a game that we need to perform in,
01:54we need to play well in, and it will show where we are as a group.
01:58Sammy?
01:59Hi, Declan.
02:00Hey, mate.
02:03During your career, you've had continuity throughout. So West Ham moves to Arsenal. A couple of weeks
02:10ago, Michael Arteta said you were as good as going to sign a new contract with the club. So
02:16that's going to continue. How important has that been through your career, not having any
02:23kind of upheaval with regards to moving clubs or any kind of other issues that have followed
02:29you throughout your career?
02:31Yeah, I've been extremely lucky. I've managed to play at such a consistent level throughout
02:39my career. I'm a player that always sets myself targets, always pushes for more. I've always
02:45been stable in the clubs I'm at. Like you said, then, new contract, hopefully on the horizon soon.
02:52So yeah, I'm extremely lucky that I'm at a club like Arsenal where the manager shows me so much
02:57trust. I have so many teammates, put so much energy and effort into me. So yeah, I'm extremely
03:03lucky that I don't have to worry about that stuff. It makes playing football a lot, a lot, a lot
03:07easier.
03:08And Dick, Thomas Twinkle, the manager, said the other day that he would keep you guys updated
03:13and speak to you about the racism protocol setting into this game. Can I ask you, has he done that
03:19yet? And also throughout your England career, you've been part of difficult situations where
03:23your players and your colleagues have been subject to that kind of abuse. Can you speak about how
03:28difficult that is for a player when your mates are going through that, please?
03:33Yeah, in the past, we obviously, in my experience, I've experienced that in Antonegro, Bulgaria,
03:39and there was a protocol in place that we followed. We come off the pitch. We know exactly where
03:43we are as a group on that. The manager hasn't brought that up yet. I think because it's
03:47been such a short week, we was focusing on the Croatia game. So it wouldn't surprise me
03:51if he brings that up tomorrow. But we know where we stand on that as a group. But I'm
03:56not expecting any of that tomorrow night. I think this is a beautiful city, great stadium.
04:00I think the players that we're playing against, we have a lot of respect for. We play against
04:03them all the time. So I think it's set up to be a really good evening and hopefully not
04:07a negative one.
04:08Hi, Dave.
04:09Hi, mate.
04:10You've been on a journey with Arsenal in the last few years where you're sort of developing
04:14as a team, growing in confidence, coming to stadiums like this in Europe. What can you
04:20take from that at club level to sort of take into England?
04:24Yeah, I think what the manager's installed in us at Arsenal is not to have any fear.
04:29I think, you know, the progression in the Champions League over the last three years, and that
04:33was a quarter-final, semi-final, final. Come to this stadium last year, we've been to
04:37the Bernabeu, we've been to Bayern Munich. And the Arsenal of old may have struggled in
04:42them stadiums. But playing in that team now, you know, putting on that shirt before that
04:46game, you know what you're going to get going out there. You know, you're going to get a
04:49strong team, the togetherness. We're going to run for each other. We're going to play
04:52forward. So I'm extremely lucky that at the minute I'm in a beautiful team with such
04:58great players and with a manager who's leading us and with a player that listens to him
05:02and follows all of his instructions. And yeah, it's no surprise that we're on the trajectory
05:06that we're on at the minute and long may it continue.
05:09So what can you take from that into the England set-up?
05:13Yeah, I think just that togetherness, I think that's what's building. I think Thomas is
05:17only short into his reign there at England. Obviously, he's come with a World Cup straight
05:21away and obviously now playing the top teams in the Nations League. But you need time.
05:26You need time to build these things. Swords are constantly changing. There's players who pull
05:30out with injuries every now and then. You're not always got the same squad. So I think the
05:34biggest thing for me is constantly, every time we're in camp, to build that togetherness,
05:38when we're in training, building relationships. And then when you're playing these types of
05:42games, you know, take that into this game tomorrow night. And that's where you see where you're
05:46out as a group. Can we go to the back row of this? Still rushing in. Come over here.
05:51Hi, Declan. Serge Hervas from Tiralinas Madrid. A mí me gustaría preguntarte por una parte,
05:57acabado de hablar Alex Baena y ha dicho que en su opinión, bajo su punto de vista, era
06:03la Minya Mal quien merece.
06:05Sorry.
06:07Repeat?
06:07Yeah.
06:07Okay.
06:08Yeah, thank you.
06:08Serge Hervas de Tiralinas Madrid. A mí me gustaría preguntarte, ha hablado hace unos
06:12minutos Alex Baena y ha comentado que bajo su punto de vista era la Minya Mal quien merecía
06:18el Balón de Oro. Tú que conoces bien a Harry Kane, me gustaría preguntarte si crees que
06:22mañana es una gran oportunidad para reivindicarse y para demostrarle al mundo que el inglés
06:27es realmente quien merecía ese galardón.
06:33Yeah, I think in Harry's case, for me and for everyone in England, Harry deserved el Balón
06:41de Oro. I think if you look at his season, his numbers, the trophies won, the way he performed
06:47in them games, it weren't just goals, it was man of the match performances, it was
06:51relentless at times. I see how every Spanish player is going to obviously say Lamin, Lamin's
06:57an incredible player, one of the best players in the world and is going to win loads of
07:00Ballon doors. But I think this time it was right that Harry won and I think that he fully
07:05deserves to win.
07:07By other hand, you mentioned, you mentioned earlier about racism, you said that you don't
07:13expect any racist incident tomorrow. However, in the Spanish league, even in this stadium,
07:19players like Vinicius Junior or even players like Lamin Jamal or Nico Williams have suffered
07:25incidents racist. Luis de la Fuente has said earlier that in Spain there is no racism. I don't
07:33think so. Is it something so important that a social lacrosse like the racism is worth a
07:37total condemnation? Is it worth more concern for the players and players?
07:46No, no, of course not. I think the times we're in now, 2026, there should never be racism in
07:54football and it's shocking that we still have it in the game today. I think I've just spoke
07:58then before that we have a protocol in place as a team that if that was to happen tomorrow
08:03night, we know what we would do as a squad and that's the most important thing. But like
08:08I said, it's set up for a beautiful night. I don't want to think about if one of my players
08:12or one of their players is racially abused tomorrow because that would be a horrible mark
08:15on football. So I just want to look forward to the positives, look forward to the beautiful
08:19night that it's going to be and an interesting match that is set up to be. So, yeah.
08:26Hi Declan, Izan Gandia for NG Sports. Lo primero para mí es un placer saludarte. Mañana vuelve
08:32la Min con España. ¿Cómo habéis planteado este partido? Porque imaginamos que el hecho de
08:37que juegue la Min mañana es un aliciente más y una preocupación también podría ser para mañana
08:43para Inglaterra.
08:49Yeah, I think when you get to play against the best players in the world, like Lamina
08:53Mao, it's a really special occasion always. You want to play against the best players, you
08:57want to play against the best teams. We don't just focus our game plan on Lamina Mao because
09:02they have ten other players who are world champions, who play at top clubs, who've also won lots of
09:07things and also world class. So it would be wrong if we just focused on Lamina Mao. But for sure,
09:14speaking of him and hearing of him from players that play with him, what a top guy he is, what
09:19a top
09:19player he is. So to play against him again tomorrow night is going to be a real test and one
09:24that I'm
09:24really looking forward to.
09:26Hi Declan. Firstly, congrats on being named GQ's first man of the year this week. Just on the football
09:32side, Spain have scored, I think, four goals towards the end of the matches from the 75th
09:36minute in the Nations League alone. Is there a way that maybe the manager or you prepare?
09:41I know that mental discipline is hard when you've played so many games this season.
09:44But is there any way of preparing for that when they have that sort of ability to sort
09:48of finish, as Arteta says, at the end of the matches?
09:50Is that four goals in the last 15 minutes?
09:53Yeah, in the Nations League.
09:55Yeah, it shows the quality and the attacking talent they have. Like just then, you can speak
10:01about Lamina Mao, but the other attackers that they've got are special, special players.
10:05And I think you need to be full gas for 90 minutes in these games. You can't switch off.
10:09You know, you need to be mentally ready always. I remember the game last month.
10:13It was an end to end game. The game really opened up. There was lots of chances.
10:17And that's exactly what I'm expecting tomorrow night with our attack, with their attack.
10:21I feel like it will be a really enjoyable spectacle. Also for a player to play in tomorrow night,
10:26I feel like it will be a really good test and one I'm really looking forward to.
10:31Hi, Jaime Herrero for Dissidencia Deportiva. Spain are now unbeaten in 43 games in a row.
10:38There's a debate right now about Spain being the best national team in history.
10:41I want to ask you if you think they are and if England is the team that can beat Spain.
10:46Thank you.
10:49Best national team in history. I don't know. That's a debate. That real mentality to keep pushing, to keep winning.
10:55And for you guys to watch as Spanish people, I suppose it's really good at the minute to watch your
11:01national team play.
11:02So, yeah, I feel like to play against, like I said, a really, really good team, a really strong outfit.
11:08And tomorrow night, we're going to see where England are at against the against the world champions.
11:12So, yeah, we're going to be ready.
11:14Aisha?
11:16Hi, Declan. Aisha Gilati from Haters TV. Good luck tomorrow.
11:20Just a question. I know how disappointed you guys were on the back of that World Cup semi-final defeat.
11:27How would you say you guys have improved or what would you say is the biggest area of improvement or
11:31what you're working on most
11:33to make sure that you can get over the line in those big games against the big teams?
11:39Yeah, I think if you look back to last month, I think this obviously wasn't here, but just watching, I
11:45think you could see the attacking threat.
11:46It was more attacking threat in the last month.
11:49For like in the World Cup, we come up against a lot of low blocks and there was a question
11:52mark around whether we could break down low blocks or not.
11:56Last month was really good in terms of scoring goals that are attacking threat.
12:00And that's been the message from the manager.
12:02With the players that we have and the quality that we have in the front line is that we need
12:07to attack teams full throttle and go for them.
12:09And we've been working on that a lot in training, giving players the freedom to go out there and perform
12:14like they do for clubs.
12:16And that's the thing. When you play for England, it might feel like an added pressure, but, you know, playing
12:21together with these teams, with these players, it should be easy in a way.
12:25You should be able to gel. So, yeah, that's what we're looking to do tomorrow night.
12:29I feel like when you have Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellen and Morgan Rogers, who are all in such
12:33good form, you just need, you know, one night for it to take off.
12:37And I feel like tomorrow night could be the night.
12:40And Harry Kane has always been such a superstar, but, you know, now he's been officially recognized and, of course,
12:45breaking the record the other night for England Caps, too.
12:49He must be on cloud nine, but how has that success infiltrated into the camp? It must have brought a
12:55really great mood to you guys, too.
12:57Yeah, it was amazing. The Ballon d'Or was in the restaurant the other day, so to see that first
13:03hand was special.
13:05With Harry, he's just so humble. I think you wouldn't have even known he'd won the Ballon d'Or, to
13:10be honest with you.
13:11He doesn't speak much about it. You wouldn't hear him talking about it unless you ask him about it.
13:14I feel like so many players have wanted to know what that experience was like.
13:19For us, 126 cap now, you know, highest goal scorer for England, Ballon d'Or winner.
13:24I think we're playing with a true legend of the game, and we can't take these moments for granted.
13:29So we're very, very lucky that we're in Harry Kane's presence. We get to play with him.
13:34Yeah, we have to cherish every moment we have to get to play with this guy.
13:38Hello, Declan. I would like to ask you,
13:44playing under Mikel Arteta alongside Spanish players like Merino and Zubemendi.
13:50Have you adopted some Spanish football in your game?
13:54On the other hand, do you think England can end Spanish and beat them all?
14:01Yeah, for sure. I think to the second question, that's why we're here.
14:05That's why we have the players we have. For sure we can beat Spain tomorrow.
14:09In my opinion, in the first game last month, we could have beat Spain.
14:12It was just a few silly mistakes that we made that gifted them the game, but we was in a
14:16really good spot in that match.
14:18And in terms of learning from the Spanish players at Arsenal, yeah, for sure.
14:21I think Mikel Arteta is always implementing or trying to implement a Spanish style where you're not passing the ball
14:28off quick.
14:28You're not playing one and two touch constantly.
14:30He wants players to take touches. He wants players to think forward, play forward, run forward, take time on the
14:36ball.
14:36And seeing Merino and Zubemendi play, but also David Rea from Ingold.
14:40The way he plays with his feet is very, very special.
14:43So, yeah, I'm lucky I get to play with these guys every week.
14:46Okay, last question, because we have Thomas Tuchel waiting.
14:48Hello, Daylan, here we are. Marcos Bernat from Radiomarca, welcome.
14:52There is a lot of people who say that tomorrow here is the best game you can see in the
14:57football league.
14:59Are you okay? Tomorrow the two best leagues in the world?
15:08I think two of the best teams in the world tomorrow, for sure.
15:11I think if you look at the two teams on paper, some of the best players in the world.
15:16But you can't forget France, you can't forget Holland, you can't forget Germany.
15:20There's so many teams that are in that conversation, you know, that could be an exciting matchup.
15:24But for sure, England-Spain is a spectacle, is one that the fans for sure are going to love,
15:30especially with the names on show, with the talent on show.
15:32And it's down to us to go out there and perform.
15:35So hopefully tomorrow night we can put on a good night and we can make a massive statement here and
15:40win the game.
15:41Thank you very much. Cheers.
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