Declan Rice should be barking at his England team-mates when it's time to press, writes CHRIS SUTTON... We need to see an improvement in this area if we are to be successful

  • If you want to be successful, England's players must understand how to press
  • Declan Rice has to be the man encouraging his team to get higher up the field 
  • LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! ‘There’s not much positivity that he will play’ - why did Gareth Southgate pick Luke Shaw? 

By Chris Sutton

Published: | Updated:

Hearing Harry Kane concede that England are ‘not sure’ how to press was surprising after the draw with Denmark.

For a team packed with so many intelligent players, to not know where and when to go would be ridiculous. 

Wayne Rooney mentioned at the weekend how England miss Jordan Henderson because he was so vocal at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s team.


I can still hear Neil Lennon yelling at me from Celtic’s midfield today. But in truth, you don’t need a singular loudmouth to make sure the press is working. 

Everyone should be communicating together. Cajoling each other so that the press is as effective as possible. Making sure that individually and collectively you’re all in sync. 

Harry Kane (pictured) suggested that England have struggled with pressing at Euro 2024

Harry Kane (pictured) suggested that England have struggled with pressing at Euro 2024

For a team packed with so many intelligent players, to not know when to press is ridiculous

For a team packed with so many intelligent players, to not know when to press is ridiculous

Declan Rice (pictured) needs to start barking at his team-mates to get higher up the pitch

Declan Rice (pictured) needs to start barking at his team-mates to get higher up the pitch

Locking on to opposition players, blocking their passing lanes and pushing them towards whichever part of the pitch you want them.

Declan Rice should be barking at his team-mates. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, or whoever partners him in midfield should be, too. 

They all should be at it. Southgate has suggested England are not fit enough to press effectively, but it doesn’t seem to have been a problem for Spain, Germany and other nations with Premier League players. I see it as an organisational issue. 

If you really want to be successful, firstly all the players must have that basic understanding of how to press.

Whoever partners Rice (pictured) in midfield should also be encouraging England to press

Whoever partners Rice (pictured) in midfield should also be encouraging England to press

If you want to be successful, all the players must have that basic understanding of how to press

If you want to be successful, all the players must have that basic understanding of how to press

Secondly, it is made much easier if you all guide each other in real time. It’s not rocket science. 

That is Pressing 101, and we need to see improvements in that area against Slovenia tomorrow if we want to go deep into Euro 2024.

Euro 2024