Declan Rice received a party from Harry Styles and James Corden to commemorate his 50th cap during England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday night.
In a move that left Rice “speechless,” the midfielder for Arsenal was also given the captain’s armband for the friendly match at Wembley.
When Rice was informed by Gareth Southgate that he would be captaining the team against Domenico Tedesco’s team, he’stood up, shook his hand, gave him an embrace and said ‘thank you so much.”
“He’s put his trust and belief in me since I joined the side,” Rice continued.
Superstar Styles and enthusiastic West Ham supporter Corden made the decision to celebrate the evening in grand fashion.
Declan Rice won his 50th cap – and captained England – at Wembley and was feted by his team-mates and celebrities after the match against Belgium
Hammers fan James Corden put aside any lingering malice he might have towards Rice leaving the club for Arsenal to throw a party in his honour
Jude Bellingham, who scored late goals, was also present but appeared unfazed as the group left the popular Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone at 4 a.m.
The trio decided to celebrate at A-list hotspot Chiltern Firehouse, where they danced until 4am before leaving into the early hours of the morning. James Maddison and Jordan Henderson, two international teammates, were also there at the party.
Jude Bellingham, who wore sunglasses to hide the traces of a night on the tiles beneath his eyes, was also present. Bellingham scored a last-gasp equalizer to spare England’s blushes after the Three Lions had trailed for much of the game.
Styles, determined to avoid being captured on camera, slipped away into a waiting vehicle as Bellingham, Maddison, and company took their time making their way back to their homes from the Marylebone boite.
The midfield player, who joined title-chasing Arsenal in a stunning £105 million trade last summer, probably had some words to say to the ardent Manchester United supporter for failing to schedule a move to Old Trafford.
Before the tie, Rice received a pair of custom adidas boots from fellow ex-Hammer Frank Lampard in addition to a celebration thrown in his honor.
Prior to the match, Rice met with former England midfielder Lampard, who scored 29 goals in 106 appearances for the country between 1999 and 2014, in association with Adidas, to give him a unique pair of boots.
The national flag was also emblazoned on the custom design of the adidas Copa boot, which included the English colors of red, white, and blue along with a unique 50 caps message on the side.
After giving Rice the boots, Lampard spoke briefly with the Arsenal player and praised him for accomplishing the feat.
Declan shouldn’t undervalue this accomplishment, he stated. “Every young football player’s dream is to play for their country, so earning 50 caps is a truly remarkable achievement.”
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Harry Styles was also in attendance but looked to make a quick getaway after toasting Rice’s landmark Three Lions’ success
James Maddison had started on the bench for England earlier that evening, before being brought on for Kobbie Mainoo
Although Jordan Henderson was included in Gareth Southgate’s team, he did not play in either of this month’s friendlies.
“I am eager to watch what the upcoming summer holds for him and this young squad as they prepare for the Euros.”
In agreement, Rice said, “It is a massive achievement for me to reach this milestone.”
“To reach 50 caps is amazing; those who are close to me understand the significance of playing for my country.” I can’t wait to celebrate the occasion on the field with my new boots on.
After big names like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, and Raheem Sterling, Rice is the fifth-youngest member of the national side to achieve the milestone at the age of just 25.
However, the midfielder was unable to complete a win on his 50th birthday as England trailed the visitors twice before grinding out a late draw.
Ivan Toney, making his debut, equalized the score from the penalty spot after Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa broke through England’s defense in the eleventh minute.
However, Tielemans’ second goal—a valiant jumping header to bury Romelu Lukaku’s well-hit cross from Chelsea—meant that England went behind and trailed for a significant portion of the match.
After succumbing 1-0 to Brazil – and the skills of young Real Madrid prospect Endrick – on Saturday night, Bellingham had to wait until the fifth minute of extra time to make sure the Three Lions didn’t suffer their second Wembley loss of the break.
The former League of Their Own host looked a little sheepish as he headed outside to meet the photographer’s flashbulbs
Bellingham and Maddison will likely both be assured of their spot on the plane to this summer’s European Championship
The captain on the night was most likely delighted to avoid defeat thanks to the efforts of Real Madrid superstar Bellingham
Rice was handed a custom-made pair of boots by England legend Frank Lampard to commemorate his 50th cap
The Chelsea great was anxious to emphasize that Rice shouldn’t “underestimate” his accomplishment of achieving the mark at such a young age.
Nevertheless, there were definitely positive aspects to England’s final round of friendlies before their preparations for the European Championship this summer, such as Jarrod Bowen’s and Harry Kane’s backup Toney’s strong performances, as well as the international debut of Man United youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
Speaking following the final whistle, Southgate acknowledged that the player’s level of confidence at barely 18 years old was almost bewildering.
The manager remarked, “Kobbie gave us something different from a creative standpoint.”
His abilities to receive under pressure, ride difficulties, and manage the ball in confined spaces are evident to everybody. We are quite pleased with his accomplishments; it’s amazing how young he is.