Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona explains what sparked Declan Rice spat with England star pulled away at full-time
SLOVAKIA boss Francesco Calzona revealed what caused his heated scrap with England star Declan Rice at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions avoided a major scare in the Last 16 with a late comeback victory over the Slovaks whom they beat 2-1 at the AufSchalke Arena.
Jude Bellingham equalised at the death with a stunning overhead kick that cancelled out Ivan Schranz's opener before Harry Kane's winner during extra time.
After full-time, Calzona, 55, and Rice, 25, got embroiled in an intense confrontation.
The Slovakia boss stormed onto the pitch in a bid to speak to referee Umut Meler but as he approached the official the Arsenal star could be seen gesturing to him not to bother.
The Italian tactician responded by pushing the midfielder, before another member of his coaching staff shoved the England ace away.
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A furious Rice then had to be held back by Aaron Ramsdale as other team-mates diffused the situation.
Calzona was asked about the incident later on and claimed he wanted to complain to the referee about England's "timewasting" that went unpunished.
And the ex-Napoli boss didn't take kindly to Rice refusing to leave.
Calzona said: “Rice was supposed to go to the referees and leave. I had to speak to the refs and he wasn’t leaving, he carried on.
"But then he apologised and it was all fine.
"I didn’t like the way the England team were wasting time was not punished."
England are now set to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on July 6.