Micah Richards delivers verdict on Manchester United and Arsenal stars' recent Euro 2024 displays
Ex-Manchester City star Micah Richards has provided his thoughts on Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo and Arsenal ace Declan Rice's recent performances at the UEFA Euro 2024.
Earlier on Sunday (June 30), England recorded a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in their last-16 tie at the Euro 2024. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored a goal each after Ivan Schranz's 25th-minute opener.
Both Mainoo and Rice started The Three Lions' clash in Gareth Southgate's 4-2-3-1 formation. While Mainoo was replaced by Eberechi Eze in the 84th minute, Rice played the entire 120 minutes of the tie.
During a recent chat on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards lavished praise on the Manchester United teenager and sympathised with the Arsenal star. He opined (h/t HITC):
"I thought Mainoo did okay. He wants to receive the ball in areas. He has no fear and wants to drive the ball forward. The same as what we saw for Manchester United this season. I feel a bit sorry for Declan Rice. He has played a couple of games with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, so you are looking for relationships on the field. [Conor] Gallagher and then Mainoo. It's hard for him."
Explaining why Rice might struggle in the future, Richards continued:
"Everyone is just saying, 'We will have Rice and Bellingham'. [Rice] needs that continuity to know what they want to do and how he wants to play. Although I didn't think he had his best game [against Slovakia], it's going to be difficult for him because he's constantly having a different partner in [his team's midfield double pivot]."
So far at the Euro 2024, Rice has started all four of England's games while Mainoo has started one of his three appearances in Germany.
Manchester United legend heaps praise on Arsenal star after recent Euro 2024 victory
Earlier this Saturday (June 29), Germany advanced to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after defeating Denmark 2-0. Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz scored a goal each in the second half of the clash in Dortmund.
After the match, Manchester United great Roy Keane hailed Havertz for his recent performance at the Euro 2024. He told ITV Sport (h/t HITC):
"He has scored a lot of big goals, for his country, for Chelsea and Arsenal. He is a top player. Maybe a jack of all trades and a master of none. But he is certainly a talented boy."
Havertz, who has scored 18 goals in 50 matches for Germany so far, registered 14 goals and seven assists for Arsenal in the 2023-24 term.