Declan Rice has said that he has been inspired to help England to victory having heard a rallying cry from Stuart Pearce.
The West Ham United midfielder listened to a elegy to the country both grew up in, and says that it has given him extra impetus to go and win the European Championship trophy on Sunday.
Declan Rice on Stuart Pearce
Pearce's video message, aired on TalkSport, spoke about what England meant to him.
“I’ll never forget the feeling each time I was able to pull on my national shirt to be one of the best 11 players in your nation felt incredibly special, singing the national anthem with 100,000 patriots singing alongside you at Wembley.
“It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up even now, nothing comes close. So what does England mean to me? It’s Cornwall, it’s the Lake District, the New Forest, Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace.
“It’s a Cornish pasty, fish and chips, clotted cream and scones, pie and mash. It’s The Who, The Stranglers, Oasis, The Sex Pistols.
“It’s the bridges of Brunel, the sonnets of Shakespeare. Her Majesty the Queen. It’s a Bristolian, a Brummie, a Scouser, a Geordie, a Cockney and a good old fashioned cup of tea.
“More than anything, it’s home. This country, this England, my England. And if anyone knows that as well as I do, it’s Gareth Southgate and these players.
“So do us proud lads. Think about what your country means to you. Keep dreaming, keep believing. Do it for yourselves. Do it for us. Do it for England."
'I was like, go on Pearcey!'
Rice reflected on Pearce's musings.
“I watched it and I was buzzing. It is just Pearcey to a tee really. Someone who motivates you and gets you up for big games. He’s someone who’s been there and done it with England.
“Played in big matches and is an icon for England. To listen to that and see the reactions it has was amazing.
“He was mentioning all sorts. Camber Sands. Cornwall. Pie and mash. Fish and chips. I was like ‘go on Pearcey’.
“It was an amazing video and things like that you get to watch and gives you that excitement to go out and perform.”
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