Graeme Souness, the former Scotland international, has sharply criticized England midfielders Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson following the team's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Souness stated that both players are "limited" and questioned their ability to significantly impact games, contrasting them with Spain's Rodri, whom he described as "arguably the best one in the world."
"Declan won't get any better, he's looking as good as he'll get at 27," Souness said of the 27-year-old Rice. "I don't see enough football in the two of them. I see them as players who'll recycle the ball... but I don't see them hurting people."
He added that while Anderson, 22, has potential to improve, Rice's current form suggests he is at his peak. Souness even speculated that Rice might be better suited as a center-half. "You hear people talk about Declan Rice, 'a world-class footballer'... I think he might be a centre-half," he commented.
Souness's criticism focused on what he perceived as a lack of decisive playmaking. "My criticism of him is he doesn't have enough football in him," Souness explained regarding Rice. "They talk about, 'look how he runs with the ball'. As a centre midfielder, you shouldn't do (it). And the reason people run with the ball is they don't see the picture quick enough... You don't wanna carry the ball really well. I've got Declan Rice running with the ball, runs 20 yards, is confronted by an opposition player, the handbrakes go on and he passes it square."
Despite his critiques, Souness acknowledged Rice's positive attributes. "There's nothing to dislike about him in terms of his attitude to the game, nothing to dislike about him in his athleticism, nothing to dislike about him in his commitment from the first minute to the last minute," he said.
Both Rice and Anderson were key players for England, starting every match under manager Thomas Tuchel throughout their World Cup campaign. Rice, in particular, played through significant physical challenges, including a sickness bug and hamstring and back pain, to remain a consistent presence in the team.