Southgate warns Rice must choose words carefully

ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate says he expects Declan Rice has learnt from the comments which Leonardo Bonucci says fired up Italy for the Euro final.

Juventus defender Bonucci, who scored the Azzurri’s equaliser before his side went on to win the tournament on penalties, revealed this week Rice’s words had motivated Italy at Wembley.

He added they were also motivated by home fans singing, ‘It’s Coming Home’, something Roberto Mancini’s men sang themselves after winning the final.

West Ham midfielder Rice said England would ‘be ready for it ten times harder than they will’ and Bonucci claimed staying humble made the difference for them.

Southgate, who has named Rice, 22, in his squad to face Andorra and Hungary in World Cup qualifying, admitted such statements could be used as fuel.

‘I wasn’t aware of the story at the time and yesterday was the first I’d seen of it,’ he said. ‘I

suppose it’s a reminder you always have to bear in mind what you say when you speak publicly can be used as motivation for an opponent. We’ve done that in the past and it’s benefited us, so I’m sure sometimes those things can be taken slightly out of context

and seem even more inflammatory so I’m sure if that was the case, Declan will have learned from that situation.’

But Southgate did concede Rice (pictured) must be more ‘savvy’ in the future. ‘I don’t know the context but I do know that as a manager that (those comments) wouldn’t bother you because you’d just stick something on the dressing-room door and use it for your own ends,’ added Southgate. ‘We have to be savvy enough to understand that and clearly the Italians maybe used it. ‘I don’t think that was the bit that made the difference. There was a lot more to the outcome of the final than that.’