Graeme Souness has criticised Declan Rice and Harry Kane after England's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
The Three Lions lost courtesy of goals from Nico Williams and Oyarzabal, with a superb goal from Chelsea winger Cole Palmer ultimately proving to be in vain.
Throughout the showdown, England were sloppy on the ball.
Rice was abject in arguably the biggest game of his career, with the Arsenal star guilty of passing the ball backwards and sideways far too often.
Graeme Souness has criticised Declan Rice and Harry Kane after England's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday
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Souness, speaking to William Hill, has now revealed the performance of the former West Ham star was 'driving him mad' during the match at the Olympiastadion.
And he's also hit out at Rice for completing just one forward pass as the Three Lions crashed to defeat.
“England were at their best when they went a goal behind,” Souness said. “All of a sudden they started taking risks. They had to be braver and risk making a mistake, risk passing it forward or trying to play someone in.
"Instead they were just going sideways or backwards and it was driving me mad in the final, as it had done the whole tournament.
“I did some research and found that Declan Rice only completed one forward pass against Spain.
"One completed forward pass in 90 minutes for a midfield player… that’s impossible!”
Another player who has faced scrutiny following the result is Harry Kane.
The Bayern Munich star netted three goals from seven matches but was substituted in five of those appearances.
Kane has no plans to retire from international football but his underwhelming displays out in Germany haven't gone unnoticed.
Souness admits the 30-year-old 'was not the same player he's been for a number of years' throughout the competition.
But the Liverpool icon does feel a degree of sympathy for Kane, insisting England didn't give him enough service as their hopes of Euro 2024 glory ended in failure.
“If a conversation had taken place between Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane where he dropped Kane because he felt he was underperforming, then I think Harry would’ve agreed with him," he continued.
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Graeme Souness has criticised Declan Rice's performance in England's defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024
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"However, Kane was not the same player that he’s been for a number of years where he has been the go-to man.
“If I were him I’d be pointing to the fact that he doesn’t get enough service.
"No one passes to him, he comes short for the ball and doesn’t receive it. The England midfield is non-existent and they were non-existent in the final against Spain.
"He’s struggled because of that just as much as he’s struggled because of any lack of form or fitness.
Graeme Souness believes Harry Kane was a shadow of his usual self as England lost to Spain in the final of Euro 2024
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“He was getting no service whatsoever. He was getting bullied off the ball because it wasn’t being given to him quick enough.
"I have sympathy for him.”
