SPECIAL PRIDE RICE

Published date26 March 2024
Publication titleDaily Star (England)
That's because he's on the verge of fulfilling his childhood dream by captaining England for the first time, on his 50th cap

Rice will lead his Three Lions into battle against Belgium at Wembley tonight and admits getting the honour left him as speechless as he was proud.

The Arsenal midfielder was watching the squad and staffplay the card game 'Wolf' when the moment he'd been waiting for finally arrived. Not that he was expecting it.

Rice said: "The staffall play a game called 'Wolf'.

"I wasn't playing, I like to watch, and Gareth (Southgate) came up to me while I was sat there and spoke to me about being captain.

"We kind of had an awkward stare at each other! I was speechless. I really didn't know what to say.

"I just stood up, shook his hand, gave him a hug and said, 'Thank you so much'.

"Since I've come into the side he's put his trust and belief in me and to now win 50 caps and captain the side as well, I was speechless."

Rice has raced to 50 caps in rapid time and is now keeping company with some England legends of the past and present. He will overtake

World Cup winner Sir GeoffHurst, who won 49, and become the fifth fastest player to reach the milestone after Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Michael Owen.

Rice said: "It's a real honour you know. There's only been a certain amount of people that have captained England.

"It's a one-offgame, but to be able to put the armband on, it will be really special.

"The other night, we looked at the caps and the people that I've surpassed already.

"Now hopefully I'll keep going up and winning more caps than some real legends of the game.

"To me, it...

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