DECLAN RICE burst into laughter after realising just how young Lamine Yamal was.
Rice was speaking to the media at England’s final press conference before the Euro 2024 final this evening.
And the England man was asked to discuss Spain‘s breakout star, Yamal, who has played much of this tournament as a 16-year-old.
The Barcelona youngster turned 17 yesterday, having fired Spain into the final of the Euros with a brilliant goal in the semi-finals against France days before.
When speaking about the Spanish phenomenon, Declan Rice laughed as he said: “As soon as we won the game [against the Netherlands] I saw a stat that he was 12 when Covid hit.
“So, that was pretty scary that he was 12-years-old when Covid was around so it shows how good he is.
“He’s 16, look, I din’t know why the French players would talk a player down like that because what he’s done at Barcelona as a 16-year-old you have to just applaud it.
“Me as a football fan as well as a football player, you have to just respect it and sometimes you have to say at 16 ‘wow’ it shows a lot of guts to play for Barcelona one but also do what he’s doing at that age it’s really really special.”
Rice was referring to attempts by the French team to intimidate Yamal in the build-up to the two sides semi-final.
Before the game, Rabiot said: “It is always complicated to manage a semi-final in a tournament like this – but it will be up to us to put the pressure on him [Yamal] above all.
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“Not to let him feel comfortable and show him that to play in a Euro final he will have to do much more than what he has done so far.”
In response, Yamal scored a wonderful curling effort from 25-yards to become the youngest ever goalscorer at the Euros.
In the process of scoring his goal, he dummied the ball past Rabiot in a brilliant bit of revenge.
Yamal had responded cryptically to Rabiot’s comments before the game when he posted on social media saying: “Move in silence only speak when it’s time to say checkmate.”
After scoring his goal and Spain triumphing 2-1 Yamal shouted into the camera: “Speak now” in response to Rabiot.
Meanwhile Rice is expected to start for England tonight having been a mainstay of the Three Lions throughout this tournament.
The Arsenal star started during England’s last Euro final against Italy.
He was controversially substituted for Jordan Henderson in the 74th minute of that game, with many feeling that the sub lost England control in midfield that day as England went on to lose to Italy on penalties.
ENGLAND began their Euros final campaign in Germany on June 16.
The team topped Group C despite only winning one match.
But that’s all behind them now as they prepare to take on Spain in the final on July 14.
Here’s their route to the final:
June 16 – vs Serbia: England win 1-0 with a goal from Jude Bellingham in the 13th minute.
June 20 – vs Denmark: Ended 1-1 after Harry Kane’s 18th minute strike was cancelled out by Morten Hjulmand.
June 25 – vs Slovenia: The match ended goalless but England topped the group with five points.
June 30 – vs Slovakia: In the last 16 clash Jude Bellingham saved England from being knocked out with a 91st minute equaliser. In extra time Harry Kane secured the win for the Three Lions.
July 6 – vs Switzerland: The quarter-final ended 1-1 after extra time with Bukayo Saka‘s reply to Breel Embolo’s strike. England won 5-3 on penalties.
July 10 – vs Netherlands: Another last gasp goal – this time by Ollie Watkins – saw England head into the final against Spain. Harry Kane scored from the spot to cancel out Xavi Simons’ 9th minute goal.
July 14 – vs Spain: England are in their first final on foreign soil and will be hoping to see off the challenge of Spain who won the Euros in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
