He’s an instant hit.
There were two moments that really endeared Declan Rice to Irish fans on Friday night. The first came during the match. Rice, having already put in a solid shift as part of Martin O’Neill’s experimental three-man defence, demonstrated his midfield credentials. Winning the ball in his own half, the 19-year-old purposefully strode through the heart of the men in red.
One of the most frustrating elements of Ireland’s performance against Turkey on Friday night was the familiar lack of a midfield thrust. Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane and Alan Browne started the game as the central trio and, while a 3-5-2 should facilitate more passing football, the alarming lack of creativity soon became apparent.
When Rice moved up into a more advanced position, though, it seemed to inject a sense of urgency and direction. While the West Ham man has primarily been deployed at the back by his club, he looked equally as comfortable further up, playing neat one-twos and surging towards the Turkish defence, committing opponents and reinstating some pace to the Irish game.
The second moment came post-match. Although it wasn’t the result we’d been hoping for, Rice, more than any other player in white, could hold his head up high. His performance made it abundantly clear why there are genuine concerns that England will come calling for his services before he plays a competitive game for Ireland. However, judging by his remarks following the result, he has no intention of turning his back on Ireland.
https://twitter.com/_DeclanRice/status/977287099849297921
When asked about making his first appearance, Rice said he got emotional when he heard the national anthem as it made him think of his paternal grandparents.
“It brought a little bit of a tear to my eye singing it and (remembering) my nana and grandad. It was a special moment.”
It’s not guaranteed that he will stay with Ireland, of course, but it certainly seems as though pulling on the jersey for the first time generated immense pride and joy. Not only did Rice think about his grandparents prior to kick-off, his commitment and drive on the pitch suggested that he was playing knowing how proud they would have been to see him turn out for Ireland.
“I’ve come away, played in the game and loved every minute of it. I’ve loved being around the team and at the moment I’m fully focused on playing with Ireland. It was actually an hour before the game. He didn’t name the team until we got in there.
“Personally, I usually like hearing the team, but this was something different and when I heard it, I was buzzing and fully concentrated. I knew I needed to give a good performance. You only get one chance and you have to take it.
“I thought I did well for only being 19 years old on the international scene, I was proud of myself and thought I performed well.”
The acclaim that came Rice’s way last night was well-placed. It was his international debut but the confidence and composure he exhibited belied his tender years at this level. Richard Dunne, speaking on RTE’s coverage of the game, likened him to Roy Keane, a bestriding midfield general type. While it will take some time to live up to that lofty comparison, there was more than enough evidence on Friday to suggest that Rice will be a mainstay in this Ireland team for years to come.
Playing France on May 28 will, admittedly, offer a more robust examination of his abilities but, if the Turkey game is anything to go by, he has both the head and the heart to take it in his youthful stride.
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