England midfielder Declan Rice has called for his national team to adopt a resilient mindset ahead of their knockout stage match in the ongoing World Cup. Drawing on his familiar catchphrase “it’s not done,” Rice emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and determination as England prepares to face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rice originally coined the phrase during a Premier League campaign this year when Arsenal appeared to falter in their title race. Despite early setbacks, the phrase became symbolic of perseverance, culminating in Arsenal securing the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. Rice now intends for the same spirit to guide England as they confront the challenges of the global tournament.

Although England finished top of Group L, their performances raised questions about consistency and cohesion. Rice acknowledged that the upcoming stages will test the team’s resolve, with potentially difficult fixtures ahead, including a quarter-final clash against Brazil in Mexico City. He cautioned against underestimating opponents or expecting an easy path to the final.

“Looking at our next opponent, it’s going to be a really tough game,” Rice said. “There’s going to be moments where we have setbacks, moments where we have to get through tough periods, and the World Cup could throw up surprises. We have to be on our game, 100 per cent.”

Rice also reflected on the mixed reception his “it’s not done” message initially received, noting it could have been misinterpreted. However, he views it as a valuable reminder to remain grounded, especially in moments of frustration or unexpected difficulty. He stressed that despite England’s talent and squad depth, breaking down defensive teams remains a challenging task.

“Sometimes in football, teams like Ghana or Panama are well-drilled and can frustrate stronger sides with their defensive discipline and counter-attacking approach,” Rice explained. “It’s down to us to be patient and find ways to overcome those low blocks, ideally by getting an early goal.”

He highlighted the importance of endurance and mental strength during knockout matches, comparing the challenges to early rounds in club competitions where teams must be resilient over 90 or even 120 minutes to secure victory. Rice urged his teammates to keep belief in their abilities and not get frustrated when faced with stubborn opponents.

“The first knockout game we will face will be a team similar to Ghana or Panama — proud, defensive, quick on the counter-attack. We have more of the same to come, so it’s important to manage expectations and stay focused on the task ahead,” he added.

As England moves deeper into the tournament, Rice’s call for a “not done” mentality underscores the need for patience and persistence in pursuit of World Cup success.