Rice backs Kane for Ballon d’Or and challenges Yamal before Spain test

Declan Rice believes Harry Kane deserved to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Spain’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal, while insisting England are determined to prove their progress against the world champions.

Spain host England at the Metropolitano on Sunday in the final Group A1 match of the Nations League. Spain top the table with 15 points and have already secured a place in the quarter-finals, while England are second on 12 points and have also qualified for the next round.

The result will therefore decide who finishes first in the group.

“This is a huge game,” Rice said at Saturday’s news conference, according to Sky Sports. “I don’t think there are many bigger games than a Champions League final or a semi-final against Argentina, but when you play Spain, the world champions, it gives you a huge incentive to go out there and win.

“That has been the focus of our conversations all week. We beat Croatia and now we go to Spain to put in a really good performance, win the game and try to top the group. We will be ready for it tomorrow night.”

Rice said the match would provide an important measure of England’s current level, with the team regularly questioned after each performance.

“Every time we put on an England shirt, there are questions about the level of our performances,” he said.

“Our performance against Croatia in the last game was acceptable, but we know there is more to come from us. I think tomorrow’s game will force us to produce our best.

“These are the games you want to play in – against the best teams and the best players. We have players who thrive on these occasions.”

Rice added: “We definitely need to put in a strong performance and play well tomorrow night. This game will show the true level of our group.”

The Arsenal midfielder was also asked about the possibility of England players being subjected to racist abuse in Spain. He recalled previous incidents in Montenegro and Bulgaria, when England followed a protocol that involved leaving the pitch.

“I have been through similar situations before in Montenegro and Bulgaria, and there was a specific protocol which we followed, and we left the pitch,” Rice said. “We know exactly where we stand as a group on these matters.

“The manager has not spoken about it yet. I would not be surprised if he mentions it tomorrow, but we know our position.”

However, Rice said he did not expect trouble at the Metropolitano.

“I don’t expect anything like that to happen tomorrow night,” he said. “It is a beautiful city and a great stadium, and we have a lot of respect for the players we will face. Everything is in place for a great football evening, and hopefully nothing will spoil it.”

On Kane’s Ballon d’Or success, Rice acknowledged that Spain’s players would naturally have preferred Yamal to win.

“I understand that every Spanish player will obviously say Lamine Yamal deserved to win,” he said.

“Lamine is an exceptional player and one of the best players in the world. He will win many Ballon d’Or awards in the future, but I think Harry winning this time was the right decision and that he thoroughly deserved the award.”

Spain won the reverse fixture 3-2 at Wembley, with goals from Yamal, Alejandro Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal. Anthony Gordon and Kane scored for England.