Arsenal star Declan Rice says England must summon the spirit of West Ham for the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Declan Rice has divided opinion among West Ham fans since leaving for London rivals Arsenal last summer.
Although Hammers fans had known for some time Rice was going to be leaving, many were angered by their captain’s decision to snub Man City for Arsenal.
Rice has never hidden his love for West Ham.
Even on England duty at Euro 2024, Rice has spoken fondly of his time at West Ham and praised his Three Lions teammate Jarrod Bowen – describing him as a Hammers legend.
But there’s no hiding that it stung some Hammers supporters when Rice declared he was leaving for the Gunners in order to ‘compete for and win the biggest trophies’.
Arsenal star’s first point of reference is West Ham
Being mercilessly taunted by some of their Arsenal counterparts about luring away their beloved captain hasn’t helped relations either.
Rice has been an absolute revelation for Mikel Arteta’s side – just as West Ham fans told some of those doubting his quality and fee he would be.
He helped Arsenal go agonisingly close to winning the Premier League title.
The Gunners didn’t, though, as they ended the season with the same number of trophies as West Ham.
Indeed the last taste of a major trophy for Rice came of course with the Hammers.
That was just over a year ago.
West Ham had waited 43 long years for a piece of major silverware as Rice led them to that unforgettable 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague.
Rice says England must summon spirit of West Ham for Euro final
It is an occasion that will live long in the memory for everyone connected with the Hammers, including Rice who marked the anniversary with a classy message to West Ham.
And until Rice wins a trophy or two with Arsenal, West Ham fans will always have that on their north London rivals.
Now the midfielder wants Gareth Southgate to use the Hammers to help the Three Lions end their own trophy drought.
Arsenal star Rice says England must summon the spirit of West Ham for the Euro 2024 final.
And Rice wore a big smile when a journalist said Southgate could get West Ham’s European goal hero Bowen on in the last few minutes if England need a goal against Spain.
“Yes,” Rice told a packed press conference in a video you can watch below.
“Well I can take from that (winning a European trophy with West Ham).
Rice says Southgate will use West Ham as inspiration
“That was, to this day, one of the best days of my life and there’s a chance to have that again.
“Again, that was a final that was brutal, was tough, was like a rollercoaster, you know going 1-0 up and then you know going 1-1 five minutes later and then scoring a late winner.
“There’s so much that you can take. I think all finals are always tight, always tense.
“But it’s about being locked in for 90 minutes, 120 minutes, staying focused. Sticking to the process.
“And like we did at West Ham, and how (David) Moyes set us up that day, we exactly did that and I’m sure that’s exactly how Gareth’s going to set us up.”
Rice may have upset many Hammers fans by leaving for Arsenal.
He has had nothing but good things to say about West Ham since, though.
And for him to bring West Ham up in this way before England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain should fill every Hammer with great pride.
Let’s hope Rice adds another European medal to his cabinet come Sunday night.
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