Looking ahead to major international tournaments under new management, Rice believes the current England squad is uniquely positioned because of their genuine friendships. Unlike previous "Golden Generations" that were allegedly fractured by club rivalries, the current group, including Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, remains extremely close. "Whether it’s through social media or in real life, you can see that there’s a real connection between us," Rice explained.
He noted that modern football has moved past the era of intense inter-team animosity. “You obviously hear about the older generation talking about how they didn’t get on and how they couldn’t connect and play together. But I think with us, that’s why, over the last few years with England, we’ve done so well, because we’re close on and off the pitch.
"We obviously all play against each other, but football’s not like that any more. A lot of people have best friends from opposite teams, spend a lot of time with players from opposite teams. With England, we all get on. We always look forward to seeing each other. It’s a nice getaway."