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For England to be successful this summer, much will depend on the performances of their midfield general.
Declan Rice has developed into a key performer for the Three Lions over past tournaments and started strongly in England’s opening-game win against Croatia on Wednesday.
For former Arsenal man Ray Parlour, Rice’s emergence into one of the best midfielders in Europe is something he envisaged when he first heard his club had secured the former West Ham United skipper’s signature in the summer of 2024.
“I remember when he was going to sign, I was at my local pub, where Mark Noble also goes,” Parlour tells FourFourTwo on behalf of the Best Seat in the House campaign to rally support for independent pub landlords. “I was chatting to Mark and saying, ‘What’s happening then with Declan, is he going to sign?’ Because those two were good mates at West Ham and Mark said he’d heard he was. I was so pleased because I knew what a player he was.
“It’s not just on the football pitch either as Mark was talking about how good he was around the training ground – working hard, staying focused and supporting his team-mates. That's very important as well, because that's where you do your hard work, that's where you are every day. You're at the training ground and talking to people and trying to help people, and there's a lot of young players that look up to Declan.”
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Parlour highlights Rice’s off-field influence as a key reason Arsenal secured the Premier League title last term.
“He's been sensational, really. He’s inspiring because he’s never afraid to do the rough stuff – the horrible work, despite all the talent he has. You've got to really dig in sometimes and you can sense he does that. Players around him will do that too, so he’s been an absolute inspiration for the Arsenal team.
“I think he's been a great lad to have in the dressing room, which is very important. He’s still a young lad too, so he's got plenty more years in front of him. He can do so much more for Arsenal and for England as well and we can be successful with a player like him in the side. He's a top player, and he's a top guy, which is as important as being a top player.”
Parlour is fronting the campaign to support local pubs across the UK.
“It's always very important, especially for people who move into a new area, you go to your local pub and you end up meeting people,” he says. “I just think the pub is especially valuable for football, during a big tournament.
“It’s the best place to watch a game. When you sit in front in your front room and a goal goes in, you never get that special moment connecting with strangers and coming together like you do down your local. If you can't get into the stadium, the pub is the next best place to watch a game, with all your friends. You can be disappointed with your friends when you, when you lose but it’s also really joyous when you win and sharing both experiences is what it's all about.
“I love meeting new people and it’s easy to do that in the pub. I think it's so important that local pubs stay in business, and it takes an effort from us all to ensure that. That’s why I’m supporting this campaign.”
Pub landlords are bracing for a quieter-than-usual summer, despite the football calendar. With rising costs already putting pressure on some of the capital's most beloved locals, the campaign is asking punters to nominate their favourite pub - with the most-supported winning a financial boost from one of the UK's biggest business insurance providers, Simply Business.