Declan Rice insists England will fear no-one at Euro 2024 and wants Gareth Southgate’s side to take inspiration from the Rugby World Cup.
England beat Italy 3-1 on Tuesday to seal their place at the finals in Germany next summer, where the 2020 runners-up will once again be among the favourites.
It will be 58 years since the men’s senior team lifted a major trophy but – after improved showings in recent tournaments under Southgate – Rice believes the hurt could finally come to an end.
“There is no need for fear,” he said.
“Even though we went out in the World Cup (quarter-finals), it was like we took another step in terms of the way we played against France.
“We lost in the final of the Euros. I think the main thing is that we are all getting a bit older, we are all getting a bit more mature. The group is performing amazing. By the time the Euros come, hopefully we’re all in a good moment.
“We can do big things. I think since the World Cup the reaction has been amazing in terms of the challenge with the group. The challenge to obviously qualify which we’ve done.
“We have enough winners in the group and the mentality is amazing but it is down to us. We can talk about it as much as we can but we know as players it is now time to step up.
“We went to Naples and won in Italy for the first time in ages. We beat Italy at Wembley after they beat us at the last Euros. Big performances. We’re ready. Mentally.
“We were watching the rugby the other night and seeing how those top teams like South Africa, Ireland went out but they are the number one team in the world, New Zealand…that mindset of getting over the line.
“That is what we’re now starting to achieve. We have all the talent but it is about that mindset and the drive to be the best and to win.”
Southgate has long been a fan of New Zealand’s approach to rugby union and Rice revealed the manager will often discuss the All Blacks when chatting to his squad at St George’s Park.
“He’s met them a few times. He speaks about them,” added the Arsenal midfielder.
“We’ve had some people in before to do some talks. Not only the All Blacks. England as well, South Africa. How to get over the line.
“How to do things differently and how to have that mindset of ‘We ain’t getting beaten. No matter what’.”
Rice may not be the biggest rugby fan but has enjoyed watching matches with his team-mates.
Seeing unfancied England now set to face South Africa in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday, he is keen for Stephen Borthwick’s men to inspire their own charge for glory next year.
“It’s been really entertaining. It’s just been on, in general,” he said.
“I’m not really the biggest of rugby fans but the games that I watched the other night have been gripping. I think you see towards the end, Ireland had, like, 35 attacks in the last wave and New Zealand were on the line.
“We can take lessons from that, even though it’s a different sport. We can take lessons from the fact that it’s about leaving everything out there.
“If you want to win, you’ve got to do everything mentally and physically. All the subs that came on to the pitch, they all knew their roles.
“There was a lot of inspiration to take, especially from our England side as well, who were written off a lot and they are showing a lot of fight and character, as well. There’s lessons to be learned in other sports, for sure.”
Keane doubts Man Utd will crack top four under Amorim this season
Roy Keane does not believe Manchester United will get back into the Premier League's top four under Ruben Amorim this season due to a "real lack of quality".
The Red Devils legend was speaking after United started life under the Portuguese with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, as Omari Hutchinson cancelled out Marcus Rashford's second-minute opener.
Keane acknowledged Amorim has to be given time to turn things around at Old Trafford, but does not see United cracking the top four this season.
"You have to give the man a chance," Keane told Sky Sports. "But the threat going forward, it's a huge problem for Man Utd. It's not good enough.
"Do I believe they have the quality to get them back to top four? Absolutely not. The evidence is not there. It's the same old stuff. Predictable and a real lack of quality."
United created 0.9 xG compared to Ipswich's 1.75 and had fewer shots on target (four) compared to Ipswich (six) at Portman Road.
They did have more touches in the opposition box (16 to 11) but had fewer final-third entries (48 to 61) and big chances created (two to three).
Ipswich were extremely resilient opponents after their early setback, and Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna praised his side, particularly Hutchinson after he grabbed his first Premier League goal.
"I thought he (Hutchinson) was a big threat first half, naturally more a winger, but most teams are going to press us high and in the spaces in the middle of the pitch having a dribbler in the middle of the pitch who's elusive and hard to pick up can be a big threat," he told Sky Sports.
"I think it's his first goal in the Premier League he'll be happy to have that of his back and he's improving."
"The first half, it's a blow to concede the early goal but I thought as the half went on we grew in the ascendancy, and the intensity of pressing and work on the ball.
"I thought we were the dominant team in the first half and deserved to be going in at least level. Second half in fairness, Man Utd had more control. It was difficult, we had to defend with real discipline on shape."
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
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