Graeme Souness has delivered a stinging evaluation of Declan Rice following England’s painful semi-final defeat at the World Cup. The 27-year-old Arsenal midfielder featured in all but one of England’s matches but could not prevent the Three Lions from falling 2-1 to long-time rivals Argentina in the dying moments of the contest.

The former Liverpool legend did not hold back in his analysis, describing Rice as a “limited” player after England’s elimination. Despite starting nearly every game, the ex-West Ham United captain struggled to make a decisive impact and was substituted by Thomas Tuchel with just five minutes remaining, having been hampered by hamstring, calf, and back problems throughout the tournament.

Souness questioned the technical ability of England’s midfield pairing, suggesting both Rice and his international teammate Elliot Anderson lack the creative flair needed at the highest level. Comparing them with Spain’s midfield orchestrator Rodri, Souness told Sports Uncensored: “Anderson is 22, so he’s got a chance to improve. Declan won’t get any better; at 27, he’s as good as he’s going to be.”

He went on: “I don’t see enough footballing intelligence in the two of them. They recycle possession, but they don’t hurt the opposition. If you wanted the polar opposite of those two, you only had to watch the night before—the best in the world at that right now, and for the past few years, is Rodri.”

Souness highlighted Rodri’s ability to control games even when Spain are ahead: “They go a goal up, and he’s still playing on the front foot through his passing choices. He doesn’t run unnecessarily with the ball and avoids going square too often.”

Although Souness acknowledged Rice’s commitment, athleticism, and professionalism, he bluntly argued that the Arsenal star might be more effective as a centre-back due to what he perceives as a lack of vision and creativity in midfield. “He’s a proper midfield player, but I think these two – especially young Anderson – are limited. Declan Rice, for me, limited. People call him a world-class footballer… I think he might be a centre-half,” Souness explained.

He continued: “There’s nothing to criticise about his attitude, his athleticism, or his commitment from the first to the last minute. My only issue is that he doesn’t have enough football in him. People say, ‘look how he runs with the ball’. But as a central midfielder, you shouldn’t need to do that. Players run with the ball when they don’t see the picture quickly enough.”

“You don’t want to be a player who carries the ball too often. I see Declan Rice running 20 yards with the ball, meeting an opponent, applying the brakes, and then passing it sideways.”

After England’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, Rice now turns his attention back to Arsenal. The midfielder will need to regroup quickly ahead of Saturday’s third-place play-off against France and then prepare for the upcoming Premier League season under manager Mikel Arteta. This strong criticism from Souness will only intensify the spotlight on Rice as he returns to north London, where he will be expected to play a key role in Arsenal’s pursuit of domestic glory.