Sky sports 56-year-old pundit Paul Merson explains his reasons why he felt terrible for England and Arsenal midfielder during the Euro 2024 tournament

In his reflections on Declan Rice’s tournament experience, Paul Merson expressed sympathy for the obstacles the midfielder encountered.

According to Paul Merson, he harbored pity for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice during his absence from the 2024 European Championship with England.
The potential of England was demonstrated by their journey to the final of Euro 2024; however, it also underscored a number of issues that came to light during the tournament.

The performance of England was inconsistent, and many of their elite players underperformed, despite the fact that they reached the final.

Declan Rice was one player who did not have a substantially positive impact. After an exceptional season with Arsenal, the midfielder encountered difficulty in replicating his performance for the national team.

The Football’s Greatest Podcast featured an interview with Paul Merson, who attributed Rice’s subpar performance to being played out of position.

According to Paul Merson, “I harbored sympathy for Declan Rice.” In my opinion, he is not a defensive midfielder. Personally, I believe that he is currently classified as one of the eights. He is superior at bursting forward when he and Odegaard are playing, with Partey or Jorginho holding. In tight spaces, he experiences difficulty; however, he is capable of passing the ball when he is running at a rapid rate and maintains his head. He continues to be an exceptional player, according to my assessment. Simply put, I believe that he has been playing in the incorrect position.

The next England manager will encounter a substantial obstacle in effectively arranging the midfield. The most advantageous role for Rice appears to be in a more advanced position; however, this is in opposition to the preferred positions of other critical players, including Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Kobbie Mainoo, who also excel in attacking midfield roles.

In conclusion, Rice’s future in the England squad may entail a holding role to provide defensive stability. However, devising a method to enable him to contribute offensively could unlock a more dynamic and effective midfield setup.