England squad: Declan Rice gets first call-up from Gareth Southgate
West Ham midfielder switched allegiance from Ireland this month
West Ham United star Declan Rice has received his first England call-up since switching his international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.
Rice had played three international friendly matches for Ireland but in February he revealed that he had submitted a written request to Fifa to transfer his international registration to England.
The switch was confirmed by Fifa on 5 March and the 20-year-old midfielder has now been included in the Three Lions squad for this month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
England manager Gareth Southgate said that Rice deserved his place in the squad having impressed for the Hammers this season.
Southgate told the BBC: “His [Rice] form warrants his selection. It has been a well publicised situation with Declan and we have tracked him for a long time.
“When you’re asking a player to transfer association you have to feel the player has a future with you. Saying that, there are no guarantees, but his form has been excellent.
“We like his character and he can play as a holding midfielder or a defender.”
Southgate is without injured midfield duo Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) and Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) but Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been recalled.
England’s 25-man squad
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland (Stoke City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders
Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham)
Forwards
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Ruled out with injury
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
England fixtures in March 2019
- Friday 22 March: Euro 2020 qualifier home vs. Czech Republic (7.45pm, Wembley Stadium)
- Monday 25 March: Euro 2020 qualifier away vs. Montenegro (7.45pm)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
Gareth Southgate's England: a bittersweet swan song
In Depth History books will favour football manager who transformed culture of football in England
By The Week UK Published
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?
Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
By The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Lionesses will have regrets but their legacy can be ‘incredible’
feature England stars return home after heartbreaking Women’s World Cup final loss to Spain
By Mike Starling Published
-
How English women’s football could become a billion pound industry
feature Building on the success of the Lionesses won’t be easy but it is eminently possible
By The Week Staff Published
-
Lionesses dig deep after Lauren James’s ‘Beckham-esque’ red card
feature England reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals after a 4-2 win on penalties against Nigeria
By Mike Starling Published
-
Curse of the Lionesses: what’s causing spate of England women’s football injuries?
Under the Radar Several key players are out of the World Cup, raising concerns about hectic schedules, sub-par pitches and sexism
By Harriet Marsden Published