Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlasic has expressed admiration for England captain Declan Rice ahead of their upcoming encounter in the European qualifiers. The two players, who were teammates at West Ham United during the 2021-22 Premier League season, maintain a professional friendship and continue to follow each other’s careers closely.

Vlasic, 28, joined West Ham from CSKA Moscow in a £26 million transfer but struggled to secure regular playing time, making just 19 league appearances before moving on loan to Torino. He later completed a permanent move to the Italian side. Despite his own career trajectory, Vlasic has praised Rice’s development, describing the England and Arsenal midfielder as being “a class apart.”

Speaking ahead of Croatia’s Group L fixture against England set for Wednesday, Vlasic highlighted Rice’s exceptional talent and consistency, saying he always recognized Rice’s potential during their time together at West Ham. “You could see right away that Declan was a great player,” Vlasic said. “I always knew Rice would reach this level—in training, the team he played for always won.”

Looking forward to the match, Vlasic acknowledged the challenge posed by England’s versatile tactics, noting the team’s ability to adapt to different systems. “England can play any system,” he stated, emphasizing the need for Croatia to be prepared for a variety of strategies.

The upcoming fixture is seen as a pivotal match within Group L of the European qualifying campaign. Both teams are aiming to secure crucial points as they vie for a place in the next international tournament. Vlasic’s comments underline the respect among players even as national rivalries intensify on the pitch.