For both Arsenal and England, Declan Rice is unquestionably one of the first names on the team sheet.
Since the European Championships in 2021, the former West Ham United dynamo has proven that he can replicate his dominant displays at club level for the Three Lions and emerged as his nation’s best defensive midfielder.
Declan Rice does not seem overawed by the pressure that comes with playing for England and more often than not just steps up to the plate.
The 26-year-old’s impressive performances for both club and country have not gone unnoticed, with even legendary midfielders like Yaya Toure professing their love for Rice.
But for Rice to elevate his status even further, he must help deliver silverware for England at the World Cup in 2026. Philipp Lahm, who won the competition with Germany in 2014 had his say on the Arsenal midfielder.
Philipp Lahm says Declan Rice is a leader for England
Lahm, much like Rice was one of his nation’s most crucial players at the time.
Another similarity that the Bayern Munich legend shared with the Englishman is that he could play in multiple roles for the national team, with the latter having been deployed as a number six and further forward — as he did under Lee Carsley in particular.
In a German team that had big names like Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm was quietly brilliant like Rice has been for years now as well.
Lahm discussed Rice in his column for The Athletic and the treble-winner noted that he is one of England’s three leaders alongside Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane: “England has many talented players but few leaders, apart from Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham — the latter two are still growing into the roles internationally — and this shortcoming shows in the decisive games and moments.”
“Perhaps that’s why [Thomas] Tuchel called up Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker for his first squad.”
Declan Rice said Thomas Tuchel told him to become a leader
Rice revealed that Thomas Tuchel has instructed him to take on a leadership role for England.
The revered midfielder said via The Telegraph: “I get on with everyone. Sometimes I’m a bit too nice, but definitely that’s a role that Thomas has asked me to take on. Gareth [Southgate] asked me to take on. Same at Arsenal where I need to be more demanding. I can be more honest with players.”
“To be fair, this year at Arsenal, probably, I’ve taken that step a lot more than what I had done in the past. Obviously, I was captain at West Ham from a young age. So I do have the responsibilities to do that and lead. But, definitely, something I can improve on in my game is that leadership side.”
“That’s why you can’t just have one leader. You need a lot of players in a group that come together, can have honest, uncomfortable conversations. Not like conversations where it’s like: ‘He’s saying stuff about me’ and you take it personally. It’s constructive criticism.”
Young players like Myles Lewis-Skelly look up to Rice and as Philipp Lahm stated, he will have to continue being a leader for England to help them cement their status as the best international team in the world.
