Tony Cascarino has strongly defended Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice after Graeme Souness labelled the England star a "limited" player following the Three Lions' World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Souness argued that Rice would be better suited to playing at centre-back rather than in midfield, but Cascarino believes the Arsenal captain has repeatedly shown he possesses far more than purely defensive qualities.
The former Chelsea striker insists Rice remains one of England's most complete midfielders despite enduring a physically demanding campaign.
Cascarino dismisses Souness' verdict
Speaking on talkSPORT's Weekend Sports Breakfast, Cascarino rejected suggestions that Rice lacks the technical or attacking qualities required to play in midfield.
The former Republic of Ireland international pointed to Rice's versatility, highlighting his ability to operate as a holding midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, right-back or central defender.
Cascarino also believes the Arsenal star can contribute far more in the final third when given greater attacking freedom.
Rather than questioning Rice's ability, he suggested the midfielder's performances at the World Cup should be viewed in the context of an exhausting season in which he played a pivotal role in Arsenal's Premier League title triumph.
Rice responds on the pitch
Despite managing lower back and hamstring issues for much of the campaign, Rice featured in seven of England's eight matches at the 2026 World Cup.
His standout display came in England's dramatic 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off, where he captained the side in Harry Kane's absence.
Rice opened the scoring after driving forward from midfield before later providing an assist from a corner for Ezri Konsa, underlining the attacking qualities Cascarino believes are often overlooked.
After the match, the 27-year-old praised the spirit within Thomas Tuchel's squad, describing it as England's strongest group for many years.
Tuchel also commended his players' response following the disappointment of the semi-final defeat, revealing that Jordan Henderson's motivational speech before kick-off played a significant role in inspiring England's performance.
Key Points
- Tony Cascarino has rejected Graeme Souness' criticism of Declan Rice.
- Souness claimed the Arsenal midfielder is a "limited" player.
- Cascarino believes Rice is capable of playing multiple positions at the highest level.
- Rice captained England and produced a goal and an assist against France.
- Thomas Tuchel praised England's response after their semi-final disappointment.
What's next?
Rice will now enjoy a well-earned break before returning to Arsenal for pre-season, where he is expected to remain a central figure in Mikel Arteta's plans. After another demanding campaign for club and country, managing his workload could be key as the Gunners look to defend their Premier League crown and compete in Europe.
Do you agree with Tony Cascarino that Declan Rice is one of England's most complete midfielders, or does Graeme Souness have a point?
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *