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 clashed

Calzone claimed it all started because he wanted to speak to the referee

Calzona said Arsenal star Rice wouldn’t go away and got in his way

Calzona stated that Rice apologised after the heated incident

They fought hard against the Slovaks in the Round of 16, but in the end they won 2-1 at the AufSchalke Arena.

At the very end, Jude Bellingham tied the game with a great overhead kick. This took away Ivan Schranz’s first goal and set up Harry Kane’s extra-time winner.

When the game was over, Calzona, 55, and Rice, 25, got into a very bad fight.

The boss of the Slovakian team ran out onto the pitch to talk to Umut Meler, the referee. The Arsenal star could be seen telling him not to worry as he got closer.

The Italian boss hit the midfielder back, and then another member of his coaching staff hit the England star to push him away.

After that, Rice got very angry, and Aaron Ramsdale had to hold him back while other players tried to calm him down.

In later questions, Calzona said he wanted to tell the official that England was “wasting time” and not getting punished for it.

The former Napoli boss didn’t like it when Rice wouldn’t leave either.

“Rice should have left and gone to the refs,” Calzona said. He wouldn’t leave while I talked to the refs. He didn’t stop.

“But he said sorry, and everything was fine after that.”

“I didn’t like how the England team was wasting time without getting in trouble for it.”

Now, England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals on July 6.