“They want that in a museum” — Declan Rice reveals which Real Madrid star’s last-ever international shirt he owns
West Ham United and England midfielder Declan Rice has revealed he owns the last-ever international shirt of former Germany international Toni Kroos after the pair exchanged tees at Euro 2020 last summer.
Kroos, 32, called time on his international career last summer following Germany’s exit from Euro 2020, in which England produced a 2-0 win in their Round of 16 match-up, with the Real Madrid star and Rice going toe-to-toe in the centre of the pitch.
Following a gruelling 90 minutes at Wembley, with Gareth Southgate’s men securing the triumph through goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane in the final quarter of an hour, Kroos and Rice embraced at the final whistle and customarily traded jerseys.
During an appearance on GOAL’s Box 2 Box series, Rice explained: “Toni Kroos — he retired after the Euros — and I got his last ever Germany shirt. Somewhere in Germany, they want that in a museum, and I’ve got it at home!”
The West Ham skipper went on to discuss England’s chances at Qatar 2022 later this year following the nation’s appearance in the European Championship final last time out, and he believes the the Three Lions have enough quality to emulate 1966.
He said: “With the squad we’ve got, and the players coming through, we have to aim to win the World Cup,
“Obviously, we were so close in the summer, but as an England fan as well as a player, some of the players we’ve got in the squad now are scary how good they are. There’s ones coming through as well that obviously want the shirt and are excellent players.
“So I feel like we’re in a good place, but that will only be realised if we go and win something major for the country.”
He continued: “I feel like if we went and won in Qatar, wow, it would be the first one since 1966, so it would be massive, and I feel like no-one expects England to do it.
“So us as players, our minds are in the right place, and I feel like every time we go to a tournament now, Gareth has changed that mindset with players in terms of believing we can win it.”
