International Round-up: Rice and Lingard start in England win

Declan Rice in action against Austria


Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard started in England's 1-0 friendly victory over Austria on Wednesday night.

The pair played 61 minutes at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium as England's preparations for Euro 2020 continued.

Although Lingard wasn't selected in Gareth Southgate's final squad for the finals, he played a key role in the win against Austria, having a hand in Bukayo Saka's 56th minute.

It was Lingard's neat cushioned touch from Harry Kane's pass which set Jack Grealish free in the area, and although Austria defender Martin Hinteregger got a toe to the ball, it ran kindly for Arsenal man Saka to tuck home.


Jesse Lingard in action against Austria


Rice, who won his 16th England cap on Teesside, was rarely troubled by the visitors during his hour on the pitch, although they did come close to a leveller in the second half when first Marcel Sabitzer struck the crossbar, then Alessandro Schopf had a late shot cleared off the line by Ben White.

England are back at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday when they take on Romania in their final warm-up fixture, before their Group D campaign gets underway on Sunday 13 June against Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

Southgate's side will then play Scotland and Czech Republic, also on home turf at Wembley, as they aim for a tilt at a first-ever European Championship title.


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