"Gareth put up pictures of special moments – the Ashes, Rugby World Cup - and how we could impact a nation.'' Declan Rice.

Declan Rice opens up on a range of subjects in advance of Sunday’s Euro 2024 final against Spain….

On taking inspiration from past sporting triumphs. “Before we left St George’s Park, we had a meeting and Gareth put up pictures of special moments – the Ashes, Rugby World Cup - and how everyone gathered round in London and what it would be like to get that feeling and how we could impact a nation. All the great sporting achievements, you see the nation coming together in these moments. To experience one of them as an individual and a team… we want that really bad.”

On what ending the years of hurt would mean. “When I was at West Ham, you’d constantly hear about the boys of 66. It’s a massive moment for our nation. We don’t want to be a country that just gets to finals. We want to be a country where we win. We’ve young players coming through for the next generation so we can become a really big force. I’ve never seen a group so motivated. All of us will run through a brick wall to win this game. We’ve now got a chance to create history. We saw when the women won it (Euro 2022) what it meant to the nation. We want that as a men’s team. We want to make the nation proud.”

On switch to back-five. “With the back-five in this tournament we’ve had much better control, passed the ball really well, fluid between the lines, used the keeper more, and been calm and composed.”

On Gareth Southgate’s resilience after the criticism and jeers following the Slovenia game. “I can’t speak highly enough of Gareth. The England manager’s job is one of the most scrutinised in the world. See what he’s done: semi-finals, final, quarter-final. After the group games it was tough, the boos, people chucking stuff on the pitch. He was calm with us. He gave us a vision and belief we could go and do special things.”

On learning from Jorginho and the way Italy controlled the last Euro final. “In that final, it got away from us. It’s a numbers game. We played a back-five, they played a back-four, they had an extra man in midfield and utilised that. You’re trying to press one man, but one man is always free for them and they got the control we lacked. We went 1-0 up and then probably just sat off, didn’t really attack them as much as we should have. We probably were a bit naive and we've learned from that. Euro 2020 still hurts, seeing Italy walk up at our home stadium and lift that trophy is something that lives with you. I’d put Jorginho in the top five players I played with in terms of football intelligence and IQ. How he controls a football match is quite special. We're really lucky to have him at Arsenal.”

On his partnership with Kobbie Mainoo. “I always think back now to the Iceland game (1-0 loss before the tournament), and people questioning whether we could play together or not and whether he was ready to play. You see as this tournament goes on that this boy can be trusted in any position, whether you want to play him as a 6 or 8. You can just see with the way he plays, the swagger, the authority. He’s calm and composed, not fazed by anything. He’s so, so good. We have a really good relationship, and that’s important as you need to understand each other's game. We need to play close to each other. That's why you see us playing a couple of little passes to each other, first passing connections are so important. He's only 19. He's destined for great things and what I love about him as well is he isn't big-headed. He’s got a great family around him, you see his family in the stand after the game, they are so happy, smiley, speak to people. Man United have got a top player on their hands for the next decade. It’s important as a nation we don't put too much pressure on him, just let him flourish and keep enjoying his football and that's when you’ll get to see the best of Kobbie.”

On his words to England’s attackers. “I always say ‘go and express yourselves’. I can be that one who sits in front of the back-four and protects. If it means me sacrificing some bits of my game for the team to win…I don't see that as a problem. If we’re champions! I’ll always show love to our front players. Phil the other night (against the Dutch) unbelievable, playing in that central role. Jude looks so free, ‘Saks’ looks so free, ‘H’ dropping in, going high. We are starting to go through the gears.

On Harry Kane. “It’s how hard he works. The first moment I stepped in with England, I got to watch him train and he’s so driven to score goals. He's just got that fire in him. He’s come under criticism but the way he channels it, the way he leads, he deserves to win this trophy. He’s England captain. He deserves to have his name written in history. It would be so special if he could lift it. He shows his quality in big matches. He's not only a striker, he could play in midfield.”

On Phil Foden. “He's so special. The way he takes the ball on the half-turn and the way he runs with the ball and has close control and touches is incredible. Playing on the left he maybe sacrifices himself for the team a little, still done the best he can. When he moves central, we’ve seen create more, be more on the half-turn, such a top player. The more we can get him on the ball the better.”

On Spain. “It's going to be tough against Spain. Spain have been an unbelievable nation for so many years now. They’re very good at killing games with their passing.”

On comparisons with Rodri. “We're two completely different players. This year I've been playing a bit more attacking at Arsenal. He's more an out-and-out defensive midfielder. I started my career as a centre-back. Rodri was born and bred Spanish holding midfield. Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets played that 6 role the best that you can play it. I've had to learn it and adapt, ask questions, and try and improve myself daily. I've come into the 6 role the last six or seven years since I started my West Ham career and now at Arsenal I play 8, and a bit more attacking. We play different roles. Rodri’s a top player. But it's not just a battle me against him you know they've also got Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo. The midfield battle will be key.”

On Lamine Yamal. “I saw a stat that he was 12 when Covid hit! You have to respect it. At 16 that shows a lot of guts to play for Barcelona. To do what he's doing at that age is really, really special.”

On messages from Mikel Arteta, his Spanish manager at Arsenal. “Mikel texted me the other night saying ‘vamos’ when we got to the final! I'm sure he's going to be split because he's Spanish and he's got boys in the squad who are English as well. But he did wish me all the best!”