Declan Rice: Calafiori ‘one of my best friends, Italy an amazing country’ | OneFootball

Declan Rice took a moment to speak about his friendship with Italy international Riccardo Calafiori after England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup and says that Italy is ‘an amazing country, I respect everyone there’.

Declan Rice on love for Calafiori and Italy

The Arsenal midfielder started alongside Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham in the England midfield as Thomas Tuchel led the Three Lions to an encouraging 4-2 victory over a Croatia side featuring the likes of Luka Modric, Petar Sucic, Martin Baturina and Mario Pasalic.

During the post-match interviews, Rice took a moment to speak to the Italian media and discussed his friendship with Italy international Calafiori, who is not at the World Cup and is instead preparing to defend Arsenal’s Premier League title in 2026-27.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Declan Rice during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“One of my best friends at Arsenal, Calafiori, he’s obviously Italian. I love that guy, one of my best friends in football,” the England midfielder said in a post-match interview with DAZN.

“It’s an amazing country, I’ve been there a few times myself so I respect everyone there.”

The DAZN reporter asked Rice how he is coping with the sun in the United States, joking with the sunburned Englishman that he’s picked up a nice bit of colour.

“I’ve got a nice colour now,” Rice insisted. “I’m not sunburned anymore. I was very burnt the first few days but now I’m good. I’m happy now”