Three Lions midfielder Declan Rice did not appreciate Slovak coach Francesco Calzona complaining about the behavior of the English players at the end of the match. A heated exchange between the two men gave rise to insults.
Having come back from very far, England came close to disaster against Slovakia (2-1 aet), in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. Having been behind for a long time, the Three Lions gave themselves a big scare, snatching extra time in the last seconds of added time thanks to the magnificent equalizer of the savior Jude Bellingham, with an acrobatic overhead kick. The English ended up overturning Slovakia who believed in it until the end of regulation time, before the match finally slipped away from them. At the start of extra time, Harry Kane knocked out valiant Slovaks with his head (91st).
“He apologized”
Cruel, the scenario left a bitter taste for the Slovak players who for the most part remained prostrate on the pitch, dejected, like the Parisian Milan Skriniar. While his players contemplated the extent of their dismay, coach Francesco Calzona went to the referees to complain about the English strategy which consisted of gaining time at the end of the match. It was without counting on Declan Rice who tried to intervene. Furious, Calzona pushed away the Arsenal player who took offense. The tone is raised.
“Shut up, you bald cunt,” the England midfielder reportedly said, according to a lip-reading specialist quoted by the Daily Mail. Restrained by his teammates Ivan Toney and Aaron Ramsdale who pulled him out while he continued to shout at the Italian coach, Declan Rice eventually calmed down. Francesco Calzona did everything he could to minimize the extent of a controversy that he quickly defused by delivering his version of events, very summarized, at a press conference. “Rice was supposed to go see the referees, say goodbye and leave. I was supposed to talk to the referees and he kept talking. He then apologised and that was it.”
