Graeme Souness slams ‘limited’ Arsenal star after England’s World Cup exit

Graeme Souness has criticised ‘limited’ Declan Rice and branded the Arsenal midfielder a ‘steady Eddie’ after England’s World Cup exit.

Rice struggled with injury and illness during England’s World Cup campaign, which was ended by reigning champions Argentina in the semi-final stage.

It would have been almost unfathomable for Thomas Tuchel to sub off Rice with England holding onto a narrow lead against Argentina and just minutes away from a first World Cup final since 1966.

But that is exactly what happened and Rice watched on from the bench as his England teammates conceded two late goals to crash out.

Rice has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world since joining Arsenal from West Ham and helped the Gunners win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final last season.

But Souness disagrees with that assessment of Rice, insisting he is nothing more than a ‘steady Eddie’ in comparison to the world’s best like Manchester City star and Spain World Cup finalist Rodri.

‘Elliot Anderson is very young so he’s got a chance to get better but Declan won’t get any better,’ Souness, one of the best midfielders of his generation, told Sports Uncensored.

‘You’re looking at as good as you’re going to get at 27. I don’t see enough football in the two of them. I see them as players who recycle the ball but I don’t see them hurting opponents enough.

‘If you want the polar opposite to those two, the night before we saw arguably the best in the world and someone who’s been the best for a number of years in Rodri.

‘They go a goal back and he still gets them on the front foot with his passing. Not be running with the ball unnecessarily or going square all the time, he’s a proper midfielder.

‘I think these two lads are limited. Declan Rice for me is limited. You hear people talk about Rice and say he’s a world-class footballer… I think he might be a centre-half.

‘There’s nothing to dislike about him in terms of his attitude, his athleticism and his commitment from the first minute to the last.

‘My criticism is he doesn’t have enough football in him. People talk about him and how he runs with the ball, as a centre midfield player you shouldn’t do that. That means you haven’t seen the picture quick enough. 

‘England’s midfield wasn’t right and never was right.’

Chelsea legend and ex-England defender John Terry tried to leap to Rice’s defence in response to Souness’ comments.

‘I disagree actually,’ Terry said. ‘I’m in the Declan Rice camp, I do think he’s world-class.

‘He’s world-class and breaking the play up. Declan’s role in that England side isn’t to drive forward or to pick a pass or open a defence up, Declan – like Rodri – stops everything in front of you.

‘[Claude] Makelele and [N’Golo] Kante did it for us and these guys play such a big role.

‘If there’s one player I want in front of the back-four or five last night it’s Declan Rice but he had to leave the pitch. I was so disappointed to see him leave the pitch yesterday.’

But Souness then doubled down on his criticism of Rice, adding: ‘For me he didn’t affect the game. The two anchors didn’t take part in that second half.

‘Neither of them are midfield maestros, they’re steady Eddie players. That’s how I see them both.’

England face France in the third-place play-off on Saturday but Rice is unlikely to be involved given his fitness issues throughout the tournament.

Reigning champions Argentina face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final after the European champions knocked out tournament favourites France.

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