England midfielder Declan Rice has been branded “useless” by former Tottenham player Rafael van der Vaart after his side fell short at Euro 2024. Rice started every game for the Three Lions as they made the final in Berlin, but the tournament ended in yet more heartbreak as they were beaten by Spain 2-1.
It was Rice who came close to forcing extra time when he met Cole Palmer’s injury time corner, but his goal-bound header was kept out by Spain keeper Unai Simon.
The 25-year-old has become an ever-present at international level under Gareth Southgate, and was considered one of the Premier League’s best performers last season following his record breaking move from West Ham to Arsenal.
Van der Vaart, however, has been anything but impressed. And speaking on Dutch television station NOS after the final, the 41-year-old argued the midfielder didn’t possess enough threat on the ball to be considered world class.
“£100million for Declan Rice. What does he do?” asked the ex-Dutch international. “He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth £100m, then you should be able to play a ball forward."
Rice also started the Euro 2020 final, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Italy at Wembley. And despite winning 58 caps for his country, he’s scored just three times and has previously voiced his ambitions to show more prowess in front of goal.
His maiden season in North London saw him score seven times in 51 club appearances. That signified his best return since making his top-flight debut for West Ham as a teenager in the 2016/17 campaign.
Van der Vaart meanwhile, has established a reputation for being outspoken since retiring from professional football and becoming pundit, and Rice wasn’t the only England player targeted. He also questioned the value of playing Jude Bellingham in an advanced role in Germany.
"Jude Bellingham is not someone who's there for the smooth touches, he's just a strong lad who keeps going 90 minutes long,” he argued. “The number 10 on his back is debatable. Sure, he can wear a number 10, but for me he is not a number 10."
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But it’s the attack on Rice which is likely to endear him further to Tottenham fans given their bitter rivalry with Arsenal. Van der Vaart remains a cult hero at the club after his three-year stint at the club, helping them into the Champions League under Harry Redknapp.
He also won 109 international caps for the Netherlands, scoring 25 times. And he was a member of their 2010 World Cup squad that won through to the final in South Africa, beaten by Spain in the final.