Graeme Souness says Declan Rice might be a centre-half
Graeme Souness says Declan Rice might be better suited as a centre-half than a world-class midfielder, citing a limited passing range and a tendency to recycle possession rather than hurt opponents. The Scotland and Liverpool legend made the remarks on Piers Morgan's Sports Uncensored after England's World Cup semi-final exit.
Key Takeaways
- Graeme Souness said Rice is "limited" and argued he "might be a centre-half."
- He praised Rice's attitude, athleticism and commitment but criticised his midfield vision.
- In a Telegraph column, Souness urged England to keep its language in check on calling players world class.
- Gary Neville separately said Rice's fitness issues were a "massive problem" for England at the World Cup.
The Arsenal midfielder helped the Gunners win their first Premier League title in 22 years before anchoring England under Thomas Tuchel. England's World Cup run ended in a 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina after Anthony Gordon's opener was overturned by late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. For more celebrity and sports buzz, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
What did Graeme Souness say about Declan Rice?
Speaking on Piers Morgan's Sports Uncensored, Graeme Souness told ESPN he does not see enough "football" in Rice or Elliot Anderson, who Manchester City signed for £116 million. "I don't see them hurting people," he said, contrasting them with Spain's Rodri.
"Rice, for me, is limited. You hear people talk about Rice as a world class footballer. I think he might be a centre-half," Souness added. He stressed there is "nothing to dislike" about Rice's attitude, athleticism or commitment from the first minute to the last.
His core criticism was midfield craft. Souness argued Rice does not "see the picture quickly enough," describing him carrying the ball 20 yards, meeting a challenge, then "the handbrake goes on" before a square pass.
Why does Souness say England must watch its language?
In his Telegraph column, reported by the Daily Record, Souness wrote that England's players "were not good enough" against Argentina and that Premier League hype inflates "world class" labels. He said he cannot accept Tuchel being blamed alone, arguing tactics had not changed drastically from earlier knockout wins.
"I'm sure Rice is a good lad and I hear good things about his character, but he isn't helped when he's constantly called 'world class'," Souness wrote. He credited Rice's set-piece quality and athleticism but said he does not dictate tempo like Rodri or play "cute, clever balls."
On Anderson, Souness called him a young player with a strong attitude but clear limitations, adding that City "don't always get things right" despite the £116m fee.
Was Declan Rice a problem for England at the World Cup?
Gary Neville struck a different note on The Peter Crouch Podcast. The former England defender said not having Rice fully fit was a "massive problem," arguing he is England's best midfielder "by a mile" but was "nowhere near it physically" after fitness issues and sickness in the knockouts.
Rice, who came through West Ham's academy before captaining them and moving to Arsenal, was substituted after 82 minutes against Argentina while managing fitness concerns. He also missed time against Norway through illness and spent what he called "the hardest 12 minutes" as a right-back against DR Congo.
After England secured third place by beating France, Rice said he was "proud" of the group but "gutted" by the semi-final, calling the squad "the best England group for a very long time." The debate now centres on whether Souness's centre-half theory sticks—or whether Neville's fitness caveat better explains a campaign that still delivered England's best World Cup finish since 1966.