Declan Rice thrilled with honour of the England captaincy

The Arsenal player, who is expected to earn his 50th England appearance during the friendly game, has been performing exceptionally well for the Gunners since transferring from West Ham for a record-breaking fee of £105 million last year.

He has had a great season so far and it's set to continue as he takes on the role of captain for his country in the last match before coach Gareth Southgate finalizes his list of 23 players for Euro 2024. The stadium is expected to be packed as he leads his team out onto the Wembley pitch.

He expressed his enthusiasm by saying that receiving fifty caps is unbelievable. It is a moment that he never thought would come, and he eagerly awaits the honour that will take place tomorrow night. He also mentioned that he has evolved significantly as both a player and an individual since he joined the team when he was 19 years old.

When I initially joined the England squad, I admit to being a tad anxious during games. However, as I continued to gain experience and participated in numerous Premier League matches, higher level games, and significant tournaments, my apprehension gradually diminished.

"I believe I have become accustomed to playing on the side. I have savored every single moment of it."

When asked about Southgate's choice to appoint Rice as captain of what is expected to be a significantly different team, the ex-West Ham captain remarked that he was at a loss for words when Southgate told him the previous night that he would be the captain.

I embraced him, grasped his palm, and expressed my gratitude. I am indebted for what he has done. Ever since my debut, he has always welcomed me and made me feel comfortable within the team.

Playing under him has always felt very natural and easy to me. I now have more self-assurance, and walking out at Wembley for my 50th cap in front of those dear to me is a complete privilege. You can tell from my expression that I am amazed, and to be honest, at a loss for words.

Southgate gave Rice his first appearance in 2019, even though the midfielder had already played for the Republic of Ireland thrice at the senior level.

However, Southgate recognized Rice's abilities to become a leader, even when he was very young.

He said that it was his 50th time to play in the game and, despite being young, he has exhibited exceptional leadership skills.

There is no doubt that he had the ability to lead. You can understand someone's personality and character, and their relatives often have a significant role in it.

Dec gives off an aura of stability and maturity in the way he makes decisions. He has been a leader since his early days at West Ham.

He has already acquired valuable skills, and I am encouraging him to continue to grow in that area. Although we have a number of seasoned players on our team, our young players have already demonstrated impressive leadership qualities, so it would be wise not to overlook their potential contributions.

"It's completely justified for them to take charge of the older members, imposing their authority and setting high expectations for them and our coaching staff. They possess all the necessary traits to lead the team and have earned the admiration of everyone in the team."

Gareth Southgate opines that the injury list of England is "amazing," and thinks it will aid him to make superior choices for his Euro 2024 team selection.

Several players were already unavailable for the March training session, but on Sunday night, Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker, and Sam Johnstone joined Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane in stepping down from the team after their 1-0 defeat against Brazil on Saturday.

England currently has a long list of players who cannot play due to injuries or other reasons. However, this has created an opportunity for manager Gareth Southgate to test out some new and talented players who are on the rise. Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa, and Kobbie Mainoo all made their debuts in the recent match against Brazil. Ahead of the final friendly game before the Euro squad is announced on May 21, more changes are expected. One-cap player Ivan Toney is set to be the striker in the next game, taking over from Ollie Watkins who played in the last match.

Southgate stated that Ivan will definitely participate in the game. It must be mentioned that due to recent events, our original plan for the week has slightly altered. We are currently discovering more players.

In addition, it's extremely beneficial to have witnessed all those players competing against top-notch adversaries as this will aid us in making more informed choices in the future. It's pointless to fret over what we lack. We must continue to progress.

There are numerous explanations for those wounds. From my perspective, it's not as straightforward as people just blaming the winter World Cup. However, each case is unique and diverse.

This is a remarkable figure that is not within our reach - we have never encountered this before. However, as I mentioned earlier, this creates chances for other individuals.

During the match against Brazil, we observed that individuals started to show initiative and take advantage of chances presented to them. This is beneficial for us too.