Rice warns pundits
DECLAN RICE urged England's critics to think before they speak.
Harry Kane reminded the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer that they never won anything in a Three Lions shirt.
Asked if he was disappointed with the criticism of England's Euro 2024 campaign, he told ITV: “No, I’m not disappointed because I’ve played football long enough now, I know how they work.
“That’s why I really do not get bothered about it at all.
“Look, they’re entitled to their opinion, they’re on the TV. They’re saying whatever they want.
“I know some of them personally, they’re great guys, but like I said, they’ve been in our shoes as well.
“Sometimes just to have that thought of process, just before they speak that they have been where I’m sat and where our other players have sat and not done well at tournaments.
“So look… I don’t know why we feel like it’s such a negative thing. We’re talking like we’re going out the tournament here.
“We’re top of the group, we need to stay positive, stay upbeat.
“Let’s have some positivity going into games.
“Let’s give players the best confidence in the world. Your players like your Phil Fodens, your [Bukayo] Sakas, your Jude Bellinghams. Tell them they’re the best players in the world.
“Make them read that and think, ‘I’m going to go out there and perform and give it absolutely everything’.
“Rather than reading the negative comments, [having it] sitting on their mind and then thinking that they can’t play a certain way. That’s the way I think about it.
“I’m sure we have enough of them people as well which is good.”