Declan Rice has challenged England to put down a marker with a primary win in Italy since 1961 once they start qualification for Euro 2024 in Naples on Thursday evening.Rice acknowledged there may be extra expectation than ever on Gareth Southgate’s facet forward of their first recreation since shedding to France within the World Cup quarter-finals in December.England start qualifying for Germany in 18 months’ time with what’s more likely to be their hardest task — a go to to the European champions and the port metropolis of Naples, aiming to win on Italian soil for the primary time since a pleasant win in Rome 62 years in the past.“I believe there may be extra expectation now than ever, if you happen to have a look at this squad of gamers it’s stuffed with top-quality gamers,” stated the West Ham captain. “The report in Italy hasn’t been good and for the reason that Euros this would be the fourth time we’ve performed them, and we haven’t gained but.“I believe tonight is a extremely massive assertion if we will go on the market and placed on a efficiency and win — it is going to be an excellent marker of the place we’re at and it’ll additionally set us off in good stead for this marketing campaign. We’re in a hostile metropolis, a hostile stadium and we’re able to go on the market. It’s going to be powerful, however after the World Cup we genuinely consider we will beat anybody.”Declan Rice desires England to supply a press release win in opposition to Italy in Naples / The FA through Getty ImagesSouthgate is prepared begin Kalvin Phillips on Thursday, regardless of the midfielder not but having began a Premier League recreation for Manchester Metropolis all season.Phillips has been dogged by health points since becoming a member of Metropolis for £42million final summer season, however he’s anticipated to kind a midfield three with Rice and Jude Bellingham.Southgate can be anticipated to begin with a entrance three of Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, with the latter getting the nod over his Metropolis team-mate Phil Foden.Rice hopes to make use of Thursday’s match as a springboard for a robust end to the season with West Ham, after acknowledging it has been an inconsistent marketing campaign for himself and the membership.“Now I’m right here, it’s about these two fixtures for England, and once I get again to West Ham, it’s about enjoying one of the best I can to get us out the relegation battle and win the [Europa] Convention League,” he stated. “That might be a particular second for me and the membership. My membership performances are in all probability getting checked out extra due to the place we’re within the League and me being captain, which I can tackle the chin.READ MORE“There have been some video games just lately the place I in all probability haven’t been at my finest, however there have been different video games the place I’ve been at my finest. It’s a bit up and down for the entire group this season. I wish to finish the season robust, beginning tonight.“It’s a large recreation [for England], and once I get again to the membership it’s a large recreation in opposition to Southampton [that] I’m actually wanting ahead to. An actual combination, however that’s why I do it, that’s why I like it. The stress, that’s what you’re right here for and I’m actually trying to embrace all of it.”
England coaching session forward of Euro 2024 qualifier vs Italy | 22 March 2023
Kane will lead England for the primary time since his decisive penalty miss in opposition to France within the World Cup and he wants one aim to tug away from Wayne Rooney as his nation’s all-time prime scorer.Kane blew the possibility to interrupt the report when he blazed a second spot-kick of the sport over the bar as England misplaced 2-1 in opposition to France on the World Cup, and Southgate says the Tottenham striker can have “added motivation” on Thursday.