Former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Elliott has launched a blistering attack on West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
The 20-year-old made his England debut in the Three Lions’ 5-0 win over Czech Republic on Friday night, bringing an end to a controversial saga regarding his international allegiance.
Elliott, though, was less than impressed by the youngster: “How can you not feel a bit silly doing if you are Declan Rice?” he wrote on his personal Twitter account.
“You can’t be belting out Amhrán na bhFian in an Irish senior international last year and then running out in an England top at Wembley. I get England are a better team but seriously though. #wow #embarrassing.”
How can you not feel a bit silly doing if you are Declan Rice. You can’t be belting out Amhrán na bhFian in an Irish senior international last year and then running out in an England top at Wembley. I get England are a better team but seriously though. #wow #embarrassing
— Stephen Elliott (@SleevesElliott) March 22, 2019
OPINION
The Irish just need to get over this now, don’t they? They should be worrying about their own team – and a lot of worrying they should be doing – not pulling their hair out over Rice. Yes, he played three times for the Republic of Ireland before turning his back on them for England, but he’s made his decision now. Was it the right one? Only he can decide that. However, it probably would have felt like the correct call when he was strutting his stuff in a big win a Wembley on Friday. Ultimately it’s the rules that are to blame for this situation, not Rice. No player should be able to play for one nation and then switch to another, that’s completely ridiculous. Having said that, the Hammers starlet did what he thought was right. He’s made his decision and so it’s a bit strange to still see former players have a pop at him. You would have thought that Elliott would have better things to do than put this negativity out into the world, but apparently not.
