Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart criticised ‘useless’ Declan Rice after the Euro 2024 Final, questioning his price tag.
England suffered back-to-back Euro final losses, with Spain the beneficiary this time. Three years on from their heartbreak at Wembley, where they lost to Italy on penalties, the Three Lions had a chance at redemption and ending one of the longest major trophy droughts of a top international side, having not won anything of significance since the 1966 World Cup.
Back in 2021, Bukayo Saka missed the ultimate spot-kick in the shootout, and around then, he was heavily and needlessly criticised most horribly. This time, it is time for different players to receive the brunt of the criticism, with former Tottenham man Rafael van der Vaart laying the blame on ‘useless’ Declan Rice, another Arsenal player.
England had a problematic tournament despite reaching the UEFA Euro 2024 Final, and they have somewhat struggled for relevance. Right from the round 16 to the final, they have had to rely on individual brilliance to get through in games.
From Jude Bellingham’s late bicycle kick goal to Saka’s beauty against Switzerland to Cole Palmer’s equaliser against Spain, England have had the luck of individual brilliance. In any case, they have tactically looked like a dysfunctional side and how Gareth Southgate set.
In his post-match comments via TBR Football, van der Vaart has openly criticised Declan Rice as ‘useless’ for his overall performance in the final. The former Tottenham man even questioned the 25-year-old Arsenal star’s £100 million price tag, irrelevant to his display against Spain.
Van der Vaart said, “£100m for Declan Rice, what does he do? He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth £100m, you should be able to play a ball forward.”
While the criticism of Rice’s style of play for England is relevant, it is unjustified to question his Arsenal price tag. In his first season under Mikel Arteta, the 25-year-old Arsenal star has looked worth every penny the club paid to West Ham. There are even suggestions that he deserves a spot in the Team of the Tournament for UEFA Euro 2024.
From now on, England must pay close attention to Rice’s profile and consider giving him an important role. For now, England looks haphazard, and this needs to change.
