Declan Rice urges England to channel the spirit of the Lionesses side that won Euro 2022 ahead of Spain final - as Three Lions star reveals admiration for success of Sarina Wiegman's side

Declan Rice has urged his England team-mates to channel the spirit of the Lionesses team that won Euro 2022 in their Euro 2024 final.

Rice and his men's senior side will look to make history in winning the European Championship for the first time when they take on Spain on Sunday night.

The Three Lions will go into the game as underdogs, with Spain winning all six of their matches so far and England struggling at times.

England's women's team, meanwhile, won all six of their matches on their ways to being crowned champions at Wembley two years ago, beating Spain on their way to victory.

Rice, speaking ahead of the final, referenced his admiration for Sarina Wiegman's side expressed his desire to replicate their success.

'We saw when the women's team won it, what it meant to them and the nation,' Rice said ahead of Sunday's match. 'I see some of the girls at Arsenal and that's what we want. We want to win and make the nation proud.

'We are back in another final, which is history itself, but now we are aiming to do one more.

'We don't want to keep talking about it and getting to finals and be happy with that. We now want to be a country where we win. We want to continue to grow and, for the young players coming in, we want to be a really big force.'

Rice and Co are set to take part in their second consecutive final at the Championship, having lost on penalties to Italy at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final, 12 months before the Lionesses claimed success.

The midfielder has started every game for his country at the tournament so far, playing alongside the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.

He spoke of that night in London three years ago, and revealed how it has given him and his team the motivation to go the extra step this time. 

'Seeing Italy walk up to lift the trophy at your home stadium lives with you as a football player,' Rice said. 'We know that in the last final we probably just sat off and didn't attack as much as we should have. 

'There are not many times you go back-to-back in finals but this group of players are so hungry.

'We know it's going to be tough and know you can't overlook Spain, who have been a top nation for so many years. But I've never seen a group so motivated, in training, and how we talk with each other around the place. Everyone is so driven to win this game.'