Raphael van der Vaart launched a scathing attack on an England star following their crushing defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

Spain secured a 2-1 victory with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a late winner, sparking widespread complaints from England fans on social media.

After the match, Van der Vaart didn’t hold back in his criticism, targeting Declan Rice in a stinging assessment on Dutch television. He labelled the midfielder ‘useless,’ questioning his hefty price tag.

“€100M for Declan Rice. What does he do? He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless,” he said. “If you are truly worth €100M, then you should be able to play a ball forward.”

Rice, who played a crucial role for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta last season, was a fixture in England’s starting lineup throughout Euro 2024. Despite his importance to the team, Van der Vaart’s remarks suggested he fell short of expectations.

The former Premier League star also weighed in on Jude Bellingham, who set up Cole Palmer’s equalising goal. Van der Vaart questioned Bellingham’s suitability for the No.10 role.

“Jude Bellingham is not someone who’s there for the smooth touches, he’s just a strong lad who keeps going 90 minutes long. The number 10 on his back is debatable,” Van der Vaart commented. “Sure, he can wear a number 10, but for me he is not a number 10.”

Van der Vaart’s critique added to the post-match discourse, highlighting the high expectations and scrutiny faced by England’s key players.

As the dust settles on another European Championship, these comments will likely fuel further debate about the team’s performance and individual roles within the squad.