Former Tottenham Hotspur player Rafael van der Vaart has criticized Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice for his performances in the 2024 European Championship (EURO 2024). He labeled Rice as “useless”, stating that the £105 million ($136 million) player struggled to pass the ball forward.
Rafael van der Vaart Calls Arsenal & England Star Declan Rice Useless
England suffered a 2-1 loss to Spain in the EURO 2024 final at the Olympiastadion. Nico Williams scored for Spain in the 47th minute, while Cole Palmer equalized for England in the 73rd minute. Despite a brief period of vulnerability after conceding, Spain managed to secure a 2-1 victory with a late goal from Mikel Oyarzabal in the 86th minute.
With the exception of Palmer’s impressive goal, many England players have faced criticism for their performances against Spain. Van der Vaart specifically targeted Rice, suggesting that the midfielder’s playing style did not justify his high price tag and lacked forward passes.
Speaking to NOS, Van der Vaart stated (via GOAL):
“€100M for Declan Rice. What does he do? He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth €100M, then you should be able to play a ball forward.”
Rice Did Not Get The Opportunity To Shine at EURO 2024
Following a successful season with Arsenal, Rice began the EURO 2024 tournament impressively. He controlled the midfield against Group C opponents Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia, setting the pace of the game. However, due to Gareth Southgate’s tactical decision to use a double-pivot system in midfield, Rice’s performance relied heavily on his midfield partner, with whom he lacked chemistry.
In the initial matches, Southgate paired Rice with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who struggled against natural midfielders. Conor Gallagher replaced him but also failed to make an impact, leading to Kobbie Mainoo being brought in. Although Mainoo performed well, his attacking duties limited Rice’s ability to advance forward.
Rice typically operates as a metronome in midfield, preferring safe passes over risky forward plays. Nonetheless, his performances could have been more effective, possibly meeting Van der Vaart’s standards, had he been able to establish a solid partnership in midfield.
