Paul Merson has been speaking about Rodri and Declan Rice ahead of the Euro 2024 final – and his verdict on the pair will go down very well with Manchester City fans.
England face Spain in Berlin tonight, and the nerves are already kicking in for Three Lions supporters.
Gareth Southgate has managed to guide the team to the final. We have rode our luck at times, but England now have the chance to end 58 years of hurt.
But it will not be easy tonight.
Spain have been fantastic at the Euro so far and have won every game.
Luis de la Fuente’s side have a great balance, and there are players in that team who can produce moments of magic.
It will be interesting to watch how Rodri and Rice fare tonight given the regular comparisons between the two.
For Paul Merson though, there is simply no comparison to make.
Paul Merson says Declan Rice is playing against ‘the master’ in Man City star Rodri
It has been an outstanding tournament for Rodri so far and fans would not really have expected any less.
Over the last couple of years, Rodri has taken his game to such a high level that it’s now extremely rare for him to have a poor game. It is also rare that his side loses a game when he plays.
If England are to beat Spain tonight, limiting Rodri will be paramount. This is something Gary Neville has already suggested.
If England are to beat Spain tonight, then Declan Rice could do with turning in a performance of typical Rodri standard.
It will be fascinating to watch both of them for their countries.
For Paul Merson though, Rodri is comfortably the better player. He said on Football’s Greatest: “Well, he’s playing against the master – the apprentice against the master this weekend.
“Rodri is the best. I am a Declan Rice fan, big Declan Rice fan, but Rodri is the best in the world in his position, he’s the best in the world.
“He scores big goals in big games, you know, scored in the tournament to get them back in the game. He scores big goals. Has done it for Manchester City so so so many times.”
Rodri is indeed the master
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
There is simply no comparison between Rodri and Rice.
City’s £63 million man has taken his game to a whole new level over the last couple of years and is someone who can do everything and anything.
He doesn’t just control games from the base of midfield and snuff out fires. He also contributes in the final third, as evidenced by the nine goals and 14 assists he got for City last season.
Rice is a great player, and a big presence in midfield for Arsenal.
But he has a way to go yet before he even gets close to the level of Rodri and he himself will know that. He has already acknowledged Rodri as being ‘a top player’ ahead of tonight’s final, and has praised him a few times previously.
