Declan Rice, by his own admission, is not the biggest rugby union fan. And yet the England midfielder could not help but be drawn in by the World Cup quarter-finals over the weekend, their do-or-die drama particularly New Zealand’s epic victory against Ireland.
“It’s that mindset of getting over the line,” Rice says, although, in New Zealand’s case, it technically came down to keeping Ireland from crossing theirs, defending through 37 phases of pressure at the very end to seal the 28-24 success.
The matches were on at Spurs Lodge where Rice and his teammates stayed as they prepared for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday; England won 3-1to seal their place at the finals in Germany next summer. It was easy for Rice to draw parallels between the sports, certainly in terms of the missions at hand.
Ireland entered the World Cup as the No 1-ranked team. They beat New Zealand in the summer of last year, a historic series triumph away from home. But when it mattered most, the All Blacks found a way.
The England football team have cleared many obstacles during Gareth Southgate’s seven-year tenure. Winning away against Spain and Italy, ending decades-long sequences without such victories. They have beaten pretty much everyone in Europe apart from France. They have advanced to the later stages of the past three tournaments. But they have never been able to get over the line to win something. When it mattered the most at the 2022 World Cup, to cite the latest example, France founda way to edge the quarter-final.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 19, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 19, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Bajrami and McCausland to the fore as Rangers seal impressive victory
Rangers made a storming start to their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win over Malmö in Sweden that should have been even more emphatic. Nedim Bajrami scored his first goal for the Ibrox club in less than a minute and Philippe Clement's side passed up several chances to add a second before the interval.
Thames credit ratings cut to lower levels of junk as default fears grow
Thames Water's debt rating has been slashed to the lower levels of junk by two major credit rating agencies, piling further pressure on the UK's biggest water company, which is rapidly running through cash and fighting to stave off renationalisation.
Austria Fears rise over prospect of far-right election win
After topping the Austrian poll in June's EU elections, the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ) seized the moment, calling for the appointment of an EU \"remigration\" commissioner to be tasked with the forced return of migrants and citizens with a migration background to their countries of origin.
'Cold and direct' Fayed's security chief accused of facilitating abuse
It was May 1991 and Mohamed AI Fayed was in a foul mood. \"I told you, no sex with anybody else, no relationship with anybody else,\" he ranted.
Allegations made over tycoon's years at Fulham FC
Sexual assault allegations have been made relating to Mohamed AI Fayed's 16 years of ownership of Fulham Football Club, lawyers representing his accusers have said.
'No sane people are going' Leadership race casts pall over Tory conference
On Tuesday, four candidates will make their pitches to lead the Conservative party from a conference stage in Birmingham. Their immediate challenge after the Tory rout this summer will be to reinvigorate demoralised MPs and members.
Pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 'a certainty', says Whitty
Another pandemic as big as the Covid crisis that killed 7 million people worldwide was \"a certainty\", Prof Sir Chris Whitty warned yesterday, as he said the UK's lack of intensive care capacity for the sickest patients was a \"political choice\".
Naomi Campbell banned as charity trustee for five years
Naomi Campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee after a watchdog investigation uncovered widespread evidence of financial misconduct at the poverty relief charity she founded.
Family haunted by last moments of teenager killed by 12-year-olds
The family of a man killed by the UK's youngest knife murderers have said they are haunted by thoughts of his last moments and \"how scared he must have been\".
London rail stations to be shut for up to eight days over festive period
Some of London's main railway stations will be closed and train services diverted at Christmas time, Network Rail has said.
