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Graeme Souness did not hold back in criticising Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson in the hours that followed England’s heartbreaking World Cup defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.
Both midfielders played key roles throughout the Three Lions’ travails Stateside, starting every match together under Thomas Tuchel to reach the semi-final.
But the former Scotland international was quick to highlight their failings compared to the competition’s other big-name midfielders, including Spain’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
‘(Anderson is) 22, so he’s got a chance of getting better,’ Souness said of Manchester City’s new record-breaking midfield signing. ‘Declan won’t get any better, he’s looking as good as he’ll get at 27.
‘I don’t see enough football in the two of them. I see them as players who’ll recycle the ball… but I don’t see them hurting people.
‘If you wanted the polar opposite to those two, the night before you see arguably the best one in the world at that, and has been for a couple of years, in Rodri. (Spain) go a goal up and he’s still getting on the front foot by his choice of pass, not running with it unnecessarily and not going square all the time.’
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson were the focus of Graeme Souness’ ire after England’s defeat to Argentina
‘He’s a proper midfield player. I think these two young lads – certainly in Anderson’s case, young lad – are limited. Declan Rice, for me, limited,’ Souness continued. ‘You hear people talk about Declan Rice, “a world-class footballer”… I think he might be a centre-half.’
Souness did have some complimentary words for the Premier League-winning Arsenal star, stressing that he believed in Rice’s ability to commit under high-pressure stakes.
‘There’s nothing to dislike about him in terms of his attitude to the game, nothing to dislike about him in his athleticism, nothing to dislike about him in his commitment from the first minute to the last minute,’ he added.
‘My criticism of him is he doesn’t have enough football in him. They talk about, “look how he runs with the ball”. As a centre midfielder, you shouldn’t do (it). And the reason people run with the ball is they don’t see the picture quick enough…
‘You don’t wanna carry the ball really well. I’ve got Declan Rice running with the ball, runs 20 yards, is confronted by an opposition player, the handbrakes go on and he passes it square.’
Rice battled through injury and illness in a bid to make Tuchel’s line-up, with the 27-year-old shaking off a sickness bug in Miami to play in England’s semi-final on Wednesday.
The midfielder also struggled with a hamstring issue and back pain during England’s time in North America, but remained a constant presence in Tuchel’s side.
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