---
title: "Punditry duo agree on Declan Rice’s England role"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/06/09/punditry-duo-agree-on-declan-rices-england-role/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-06-09T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-06-09T07:00:00Z"
---

# Punditry duo agree on Declan Rice’s England role

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/06/08/west-ham-discover-25million-plus-asking-price-for-chris-wood/) midfielder [Declan Rice](https://readwestham.com/2021/05/26/chris-sutton-hails-declan-rice-as-among-best-in-the-premier-league/) has quickly established himself as a mainstay for both club and country with his performances.

An all-energy central midfielder with [superb in-game awareness](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/332325/Show/Declan-Rice), at just 22-years-old the Hammer is expected to play an integral part in Gareth Southgate’s side when the Euros kick off this weekend.

As England prepare to begin the tournament with a mouth-watering clash [against Croatia on Sunday afternoon](https://www.skysports.com/football/teams/england/fixtures), punditry duo Micah Richards and Roy Keane have been discussing the possible starting XIs.

The pair discussed the selection as part of [Sky Sports’ ‘Road To Wembley’](https://twitter.com/SkyBet/status/1401856463904018434) series and Keane was adamant Rice is a shoo-in.

> He’ll (Southgate) definitely go with Rice in there.

Richards was quick to back up the Irishman before discussing the [possible alternatives](https://www.eurosport.com/football/euro-2020/2021/england-squad_sto8349240/story.shtml) in Leeds United ace Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson were anything untoward to happen to the Iron.

Already [capped 17 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357662/verein_id/3299) by England at senior level, the [£58.5million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/marktwertverlauf/spieler/357662) midfielder will be hoping to add to that figure in a big way over the coming weeks.

In 2020/21 Rice made [35 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/leistungsdaten/spieler/357662) across all competitions – scoring two goals and registering one assist.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

The Englishman is likely to play a huge role in the upcoming tournament as the talented group looks to [end a long wait](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/kane-it-will-be-a-failure-if-i-dont-win-a-major-trophy-with/1tg4txxxhxvf31hin1a496y8su) for major honours.

Should the pundits be correct in claiming Rice is a must-starter – perhaps throughout the competition – he could quickly find himself confronted by West Ham teammates Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal when England face the [Czech Republic](https://www.skysports.com/football/teams/czech-republic/squad) on matchday three.