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England midfielder Declan Rice believes public opinion of the national team has changed in recent years.
The West Ham man played the majority of England’s 2022 World Cup campaign, which began with wins over Iran and Wales in Group B. The Three Lions also drew with the USA as they finished top of the standings.
Rice was a regular in midfield throughout the first three matches, and once again played in the round of 16 win over Senegal. The young midfielder was also a member of the starting XI that lost to France in Saturday’s quarter-final meeting.
While he is understandably disappointed to be heading home from Qatar, Rice is proud of England’s achievements, and believes public opinion is now very much in favour of the national team.
“I feel like it’s starting to sway that way that we’re getting back to a level where people are believing in us and the country is backing us,” said Rice, as reported by the Mirror.
“A few years ago it wasn’t like that, so we can be really proud of ourselves. But we need to go again.”
Rice: England must win silverware to relieve pressure
Rice did, however, note that there remains some negativity around the Three Lions. He thinks it is because they have failed to lift a trophy, with their last trophy coming back in 1966.
Gareth Southgate has taken the side to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020, but they have not won any silverware under the current boss.
Moreover, the Three Lions were relegated from their UEFA Nations League group prior to the tournament in Qatar.
“Ultimately international football is based on what you win and we haven’t won for years,” said Rice.
“I think sometimes the negativity surrounding us will go away once we have won something again, I think there will always be that pressure on us.”
England youngsters have a bright future ahead
England bowed out at the quarter-finals in Qatar with a 2-1 defeat to France, a game that Rice and many others associated with the Three Lions believe was an unfair result.
Despite the loss, the West Ham midfielder is confident that England have a bright future ahead of them.
Rice himself is just 23, as is fellow midfielder Mason Mount. Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, two stars of the tournament, are just 19 and 21 respectively. Conor Gallagher and Phil Foden meanwhile are just 22, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Aaron Ramsdale just 24.
“If you look at the squad, we are so young but we’ve got so many top players,” Rice added. “In my opinion, the better team lost and that shows how far we have come. I think there are so many players here – 19, 20, 21 years of age – who are stepping up on the biggest stage.
“There is a lot that you don’t know what goes through a footballer’s mind on the pitch in a game of that magnitude and we really handled the occasion well.”
France now take on Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Argentina meeting Croatia in the other semi-final encounter.
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