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World Cup digest: Declan Rice hails 'top level' England squad

Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in celebratory mood during England's defeat of Wales
Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in celebratory mood during England's defeat of Wales

Declan Rice admits England manager Gareth Southgate has a selection headache ahead of their World Cup round of 16 clash against Senegal.

Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden appear to be competing for the two wide attacking berths either side of Harry Kane and all scored in the group stage.

"What is so good about our group here is we are all so supportive of each other," said West Ham skipper Rice.

"There is probably a selection headache for the manager but whoever he picks, I know everyone will be rooting for each other. It is a real team effort now."

Given two of the quartet are likely to be on the bench at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday night, Rice believes England have one of the most competitive squads in the finals.

"I think it is top level," he said. "It is always nice to know you can bring players off the bench who can instantly change a game, we have got world-class players who can come on and throughout a World Cup you need that quality."

Southgate had come in for flak earlier in the year after England were relegated from the Nations League having failed to record a win against Italy, Hungary or Germany.

"The Nations League was tough in the summer," added Rice.

"We came in having not won in six and there was lots of pressure on the Iran game but we dealt with that.

"We are building really well, we are in a really nice position and as the step up in quality starts to arrive we will be ready."

Szczesny happy to "show off" penalty prowess

After saving a penalty against Saudi Arabia, Poland's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny said he wanted to "face the best" at the World Cup - and true to his word, he was in the limelight again when he denied none other than Argentina's Lionel Messi from the spot.

The Juventus stopper has forged a reputation as one of Europe's toughest goalkeepers to beat from 12 yards and proved once again how crucial he is to Poland's hopes after they qualified for the last 16.

Poland may have ultimately lost 2-0 to qualify in second place in Group C, but not before Szczesny showed he was not one to be deterred on the big stage by a seven-times Ballon d'Or winner and a blue-white sea of Argentina fans behind him.


In doing so, Szczesny became the first goalkeeper to save two penalties at a World Cup tournament since American Brad Friedel in 2002 and only the third in all, along with compatriot Jan Tomaszewski who first achieved the feat in 1974.

The penalty awarded to Messi was questionable, with Szczesny's outstretched hand brushing the Paris St Germain forward's face after he had headed a cross wide, but the referee saw it as a foul after a VAR check.

"I immediately told the referee that I touched his face with my hand, but I only ran over the side of his face. I told him that the contact was there, but in my opinion there was no penalty," Szczesny told TVP Sport.

"The referee decided otherwise and that's good - I was able to show off.

"On some penalties Leo looks at the goalkeeper and on some he hits hard. I knew that if he was going to hit hard, it was more to my left. I saw that he didn't stop, so I went (left), I sensed it and I saved. I'm happy."

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