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Rice raving after rallying call
Declan Rice has praised the pre-World Cup speech Gareth Southgate made at St George’s Park.
The England squad met up on Monday before flying to Qatar on Tuesday as they prepare for their opening Group B game against Iran.
Rice, 23, was a key part of the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 side but admits he does not know how to explain how he is feeling ahead of his first World Cup.
The West Ham skipper said: “I think from the moment we got to St George’s Park, that’s when it hit me that we are going to a World Cup.
“Because of the Premier League, there’s not been that chance to switch our mindset — when Gareth spoke, it was goosebumps stuff.
“This is a World Cup we’re going to, what a privilege. To finally be here is so special. It’s hard to find the words, I can’t explain it.
“There are fewer than 250 people that have represented England at a World Cup and I’m one of them. It’s hard to explain what it actually means.
“I think when you play the games and you are on the pitch, that’s when I think I’ll be able to speak about it. It’s all a bit of a blur at the minute.”
England face Iran on Monday before group games against USA and Wales.
Ringing endorsement for Bell
France ace Paul Pogba has revealed that Jude Bellingham is one of the midfielders he watches to improve his game.
Pogba, 29, will miss Les Bleus’ defence of their World Cup title through injury but will be a keen observer of events in Qatar.
And he disclosed that the England youngster, 19, has quickly made it on to his list of footballers he tries to emulate.
Pogba said: “I love to look at the best players in the world, even young players — they have qualities and abilities I don’t have.
“I learn from those players. I’m like, ‘OK, he’s better than me. But I’m going to work harder.’
“Toni Kroos, Marco Verratti, Thiago Alcantara — because they’re not holding midfielders and they’re not No10s, they’re box-to-box, the one that makes the game, that can make assists, can score.
“Right now, what I see is Bellingham — he’s doing very good and I think he will get to a very top level but Kevin De Bruyne has been there for a long time.”
France will face Australia in their World Cup opener next Tuesday before games with Denmark and Tunisia.
Maddison misses training again
James Maddison has missed England training for a second successive day ahead of England’s game with Iran.
The Leicester midfielder picked up a knee injury in the Foxes’ 2-0 win at West Ham on Saturday, limping off after he scored the opening goal.
Now he is a major doubt for the Iran clash on Monday as he made his way back into the gym for the second day in a row after being involved in the Three Lions’ pre-training huddle.
It is a blow for the midfielder, 25, who was a surprise call-up to Southgate’s squad after time in the international wilderness.
England say it was just “load management” and Maddison did reveal a scan showed no major issues at the weekend.
On Wednesday, he said: “’We had a scan the day before we met up. It was a positive scan. I had a little problem in the week building up to the West Ham game and post-Everton game which was the week before for us.
“I wanted to play, I didn’t want to not give it a go because of the World Cup. That’s not the person I am.”
