Critics of Declan Rice, sceptics, nonbelievers – because this is football and there must always, always be critics – have accused him in the past of cruising through matches. Well, not here.
Rice must have hated this game at times. Or at least, must have felt like he could barely breathe in those periods where he seemed to be playing three or four positions simultaneously, always harried, always pressed, trying to fill the roles of defensive shield, romping ball-carrier, auxiliary left-back, rondo-leader between the centre‑halves.
