Frank Leboeuf: Declan Rice the future of England football but defenders need to work harder

Declan Rice is the future of England, but Southgate has to face reality in this tournament

You have to understand Harry Kane’s game in order to judge him. He’s not only a striker and goalscorer, he’s somebody who makes things happen for his team-mates. He’s so clever when he makes those movements to create spaces for the other forwards, and we’ve seen it on so many occasions in Qatar.

Sometimes he’ll come back and ask for the ball to be played to his feet. He can turn so quickly into space and all of a sudden England are on the attack – he does the same thing with Tottenham. He’s a real asset for England. I love him because he can be used in so many different ways, he’s just so intelligent both with and without the ball. If you’re judging him solely on the goals he’s scored in this tournament, then you don’t understand football. If that’s how you judge Harry Kane, just switch off your TV and find another sport!

I have a real soft spot for Mason Mount because of my relationship with Chelsea. He’s such a clever player, although I don’t think he was as efficient as he was earlier on in the tournament. But you know he’s got the tools to succeed, so I’ve no doubt he’s still got something to offer. Harry Maguire has been criticised a lot in recent weeks, but it’s clear he’s one of Gareth Southgate’s favourites. He’s done a great job so far in Qatar, though. Maguire has always been very good for the national team, and it’s a completely different game to the Premier League when you’re on that international stage.

But I must mention Declan Rice who really is the future of England. Chelsea made a huge, huge mistake in letting him go all those years ago.

Defensively, I think Southgate has to face reality in this tournament; his players have to work harder. My main concern about England has always been that players have put their clubs before the national team and that’s a real mistake. But there seems to be a real harmony inside the team right now, so maybe that’s just a thing of the past. But, still, you have to find a real chemistry, and that’s Southgate’s job in Qatar; he needs everyone to be at the top of their game defensively.

Kieran Trippier complained about someone stepping on his toes…football has become too slow and boring

Football has changed so much in recent years and that lack of physicality in the game is the reason I’m less interested in it right now. You saw in England’s opener against Iran, Kieran Trippier was complaining about somebody stepping on his toes. It’s something you’ll see probably 10 times a game nowadays and I can’t believe it. Maybe they’ve completely changed the fabrics of the boots or something, but that never, ever happened in my time. A player would step on your foot, for sure, and you’d say “wow, OK, that hurts”. But you’d get on with it and maybe do it back to him next time.

But now, someone steps on your toe and it’s this huge deal and the game stops to check you’re OK. It’s completely different. We were allowed to do things years ago which you just wouldn’t get away with now. It’s maybe for the best for football and for the players, but I just feel like we’ve lost something. The Premier League used to be known for being so physical, where tackles would fly in and referees would wave the game on. You might look back now and think it was actually pretty crazy, but that was just how it was. I actually think it helped keep the speed of the game high; now things are constantly being stopped. It’s too slow, it’s boring.

Alan Shearer broke my nose twice, but he was England’s captain so referees never said a thing

People used to say that defenders back in the day were tough, but let me tell you, there were many strikers who weren’t at all pleasant to play against. I saw a post on Instagram recently which read something like ‘Frank Leboeef with a horrendous tackle on Alan Shearer’, and I just thought ‘with all due respect, Alan, you broke my nose twice! So you have to allow me that tackle!’

I don’t remember the incidents fully, but I know on one occasion there was a long kick from the goalkeeper, and Alan was looking for me. Just before he received the ball… BOOM. Straight in my nose. I’m stood there, my nose is pouring with blood and the referee just shouts ‘play on!’ And you just think ‘OK, of course…’

 

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But because of Alan’s talent, his experience and his mentality, he was the toughest player I came up against. He scored many goals against me over the years and – again – he broke my nose on two occasions. But he was the captain of England, so of course, referees didn’t say anything to him.

He was an awful player to play against. He was strong, very smart on his moves; he knew exactly where to put himself so that he was free of the defenders. He was definitely the toughest player I came up against.

I have to give a mention, actually, to Dion Dublin, as well. I love the guy and we talk to each other from time to time. He’s such a smart person, and he’s completely different now to the guy he was on the field. He was a real warrior; he was an absolute nightmare to play against.