Tuesday night may not have provided England with the performance fans will have hoped for but it did offer one Slovenia player a moment to remember after an interaction with Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Arsenal have a number of representing players at this summer’s Euro 2024 but perhaps the biggest name is Declan Rice.
The England midfielder has played a significant role in Gareth Southgate’s squad in the opening three group stage games.
However, it has been a tournament which has asked more questions of this England side than it has answered.
England fans in attendance were left furious with the manager following Tuesday’s draw against Slovenia with some even throwing cups at him following full time.
But it seems there was one opposing player who left the game delighted with the England midfielder, Rice.
Slovenia player shares what Declan Rice told him
England have made their way out of the group stages by topping Group C despite sealing just five points.
Across those three games, England were only able to find the back of the net twice but were able to keep two clean sheets.
Rice’s position in the squad has not come under pressure despite the disappointing team performances but his midfield partners have been switched about considerably.
Arsenal fans have seen exactly what the 25-year-old is capable of from an advanced position, but the midfielder has been made to play a more strict role under Southgate.
Speaking to Sky Italia on Tuesday night from Cologne, Germany, Slovenia forward Josip Ilicic shared exactly what Rice said to him after he came off the bench.
“I am sincerely pleased, even today when I entered the pitch a player complimented me and told me that he respects me a lot, this pleases me,” Ilicic said.
“The whole world knows my story.”
When asked who the player was, Ilicic replied: “An Arsenal midfielder, you know well. Declan Rice, yes.”
What happened to Josip Ilicic?
Four years ago, Ilicic actually took a break from football due to mental health problems which has made his inclusion in the Slovenia squad even more impressive.
Just 18 months on from that break, the forward made the decision to take another break from football before finding himself struggling to earn minutes at Slovenian side Maribor.
However, his remarkable return to football has been capped off with a call-up to the Slovenia squad after what must have been a testing few years.
A real classy gesture from Rice towards a player who has set a fine example for a lot of professionals out there currently.
