Francesco Calzona, the manager of Slovakia, talked about what made him fight with Declan Rice, a star player for England, at Euro 2024.

England star Declan Rice and Slovakia boss Francesco Calzona clashedCalzone claimed it all started because he wanted to speak to the refereeCalzona said Arsenal star Rice wouldn’t go away and got in his wayCalzona stated that Rice apologised after the heated incident

The Three Lions played the Slovaks tough in the Last 16, but they came back late to beat them 2-1 at the AufSchalke Arena.

At the very end, Jude Bellingham scored an amazing overhead kick to tie the game. This took away Ivan Schranz’s opening goal and set up Harry Kane’s winner in extra time.

After full-time, Calzona, 55, and Rice, 25, got into a very heated argument.

The Slovakian manager rushed onto the pitch to talk to the referee, Umut Meler. As he got closer, the Arsenal star could be seen telling him not to worry.

In response, the Italian manager pushed the midfielder, and then another member of his coaching team pushed the England star away.

Rice then got very angry and Aaron Ramsdale had to hold him back while other teammates calmed him down.

In later questions, Calzona said he wanted to report to the referee about England’s “timewasting” that wasn’t punished.

And the ex-Napoli manager didn’t like it when Rice wouldn’t leave.

“Rice was supposed to go to the refs and leave,” Calzona said. I had to talk to the refs, but he wouldn’t leave. He kept going.

“But then he said sorry, and everything was okay.”

“I didn’t like the way the England team were wasting time was not punished.”

English will now play Switzerland on July 6 in the quarterfinals.