Declan Rice is very impressed by young Spain forward Lamine Yamal (Image: GETTY)
Declan Rice can't help but chuckle as he watches Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wonderkid, perform on one of football's grandest stages.
"I was trying to get a scholarship when I was 16," Rice grins, "And here, you've got Yamal putting one in the top bins. At 16, what he is doing is on another level as there is no way I was ready at 16."
Yamal, who will turn 17 just before the final between England and Spain in Berlin, has been a sensation at Euro 2024. The teenager scored the equaliser in their semi-final against France.
He made Frenchman Adrien Rabiot look silly after the midfielder had said: "If Lamine Yamal wants to play in the Euro final with Spain, he will have to do much more against us than he has done so far."
Yamal wrote after Spain's 2-1 win: "Move in silence. Only speak when it is time to say checkmate." While he also shouted to TV cameras on the pitch: "Speak now, speak now!"
Trending
Rice insists that England also boasts their own prodigy, albeit one slightly older than Yamal. Kobbie Mainoo, at 19, became the youngest English player to feature in a major tournament semi-final and was a standout performer against the Netherlands.
Rice has formed a strong bond with the young Manchester United star, stating: "We have become a nice partnership. What I like about him is that he is not scared to say it how it is."
“When he gave me a pass between the lines and I got sold short for it, we had to sprint back and we had a bit (of a go) at each other but that is good because you need that relationship and at 19 I can’t imagine many saying that to older players.
"That's what I love about him, that is what the lads love about him. He gets that respect, he has that leadership."
Rice believes that England have learned valuable lessons from their penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
"Compared to last time in terms of how to control the game, we know now what we have to do, not to sit back like we did in previous tournaments and when Italy came onto us," says Rice.
Lamine Yamal scored a sublime goal to make it 1-1 vs France (Image: GETTY)
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
"We know how we can win this final. It is a game we believe we can win. There is one more in our legs."
Arsenal man Rice highlighted the team's balance in midfield as a crucial reason for their success against the Dutch.
He added: "In the last two games we have spoken a lot about Switzerland and Netherlands and how they keep the ball but in those games we kept the ball as good, if not better.
"We've passed the ball really well. I felt really good with Kobbie (Mainoo) in there, playing really close together."
"The back three has really helped, and Jude and Phil in the 10s has really helped as well. So it's poised to be a great match. It's a game of football at the end of the day.
"It's poised to be a great final and another great night. We're back to back so hopefully now we can do it. We will give it absolutely everything for the boys, for the fans and for this manager, because he deserves it."
"We are so desperate to do this and bring some happiness to the country."
