Declan Rice has described playing alongside Harry Kane as an 'honour,' saying the England skipper is 'one of those players you'll be telling the kids about' — remarks made ahead of England's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L clash against Ghana at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough on Wednesday, 25 June 2026. Rice's glowing tribute came after Kane's brace powered England to a 4-2 opening win over Croatia.

Kane's Historic Start to the Tournament

Harry Kane entered the Ghana fixture with 81 international goals from 115 appearances — a tally that already places him as England's all-time leading scorer. His 115th cap against Croatia also equalled the international appearance record of his childhood hero, David Beckham. A start against Ghana would see Kane move beyond Beckham's landmark and further entrench his place in Three Lions history.

What Rice Said About Kane

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Rice was effusive in his praise for the Bayern Munich striker and England captain. 'For me he's one of those players you'll be telling the kids when you're older that you got to play with Harry Kane. That's how good he is. He's one of those players. I'm very fortunate (to play with him). One, he's our captain, but two, how he leads by example every day, how he pushes in training,' Rice said.

The Arsenal midfielder, who has shared the England dressing room with Kane since his international debut in 2019, added: 'It's not a surprise to me how good he is, just because of the goals he scores in training, what he's been doing at Bayern Munich, what he's been doing in an England shirt. It's been an honour to play with him, and for sure I'm very lucky that I get to play with a striker like him.'

England's Momentum and Second-Game Warning

Rice also pointed to the confidence England drew from their second-half performance against Croatia, while sounding a note of caution. 'We are just as motivated, if not more motivated to win,' he said. 'Harry (Kane) spoke about it earlier that we haven't always had a great result in the second game so we have to get that right.'

The remark is a pointed reference to England's historically inconsistent second-game record at major tournaments — a pattern manager Thomas Tuchel will be keen to break on the east coast of the United States.

What's at Stake Against Ghana

A win for England in Group L would all but seal their place in the knockout rounds. Ghana, meanwhile, will be looking to register their first points of the tournament. The match at Foxborough is one of the marquee Group Stage fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With Kane in this form and Rice providing the engine in midfield, England arrive as strong favourites — but the second-game curse looms as a psychological hurdle.