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Declan Rice has called on England to end an unbeaten 2023 with a \u201cbang\u201d by winning their final Euro 2024 qualifier away to North Macedonia.<\/p>\n
England have not suffered defeat since their World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of France last December and sealed their spot at next summer\u2019s finals with two games to spare.<\/p>\n
Rice\u2019s Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka hit a hat-trick in a 7-0 thrashing of North Macedonia in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in June.<\/p>\n
After a drab 2-0 win over Malta on Friday, Rice is keen for England to put in a better showing to bring the curtain down on a strong calendar year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think especially the other night after Malta there is just a bit of pride in ourselves that we need to raise our level,\u201d the Arsenal midfielder said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to put out a statement and it would be a good way to end the year. We are currently unbeaten since the World Cup so it is down to us to go out tomorrow night, put on a performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to be mentally prepared, have the right mentality and be ready for a hostile environment and make sure we go out of this year with a bang. We will be ready for whatever they throw at us.\u201d<\/p>\n
We need to put out a statement and it would be a good way to end the year<\/p>\n
Rice will collect his 48th cap in Monday\u2019s game and the former West Ham captain admits he was \u201cgutted\u201d that a controversial VAR call cost him a fourth England goal in the Malta win.<\/p>\n
Just moments after Harry Kane had doubled the lead, Rice charged forward and drove home a fine finish that was ultimately ruled out for offside against Kane.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest with you, going back to the other night I was gutted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I picked the ball up and drove through and bent one into the far corner, I was buzzing because I don\u2019t really score goals like that often.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it was chalked off I was gutted, but it was one of those where I didn\u2019t want to get into something with the ref, get a silly yellow card. The game was won at 2-0 so it is one of those you have to take on the chin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully I can score one of those again, maybe tomorrow night, so we will have to wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has landed a Football Association charge for his stinging criticism of VAR following the recent Premier League defeat at Newcastle \u2013 labelling the decision to allow Anthony Gordon\u2019s winning goal to stand as both \u201cembarrassing\u201d and a \u201cdisgrace\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is one of those things, you are going to get decisions that go your way and those that don\u2019t go your way,\u201d Rice said on VAR.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the minute it is a bit up in the air because some decisions being made are the wrong decisions, some are right, but we are just there to play football and it is down to the authorities to decide \u2013 the people at Stockley Park and the referees.\u201d<\/p>\n