Former Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder, renowned for his technical mastery on the pitch, has shared his candid opinion on Declan Rice's recent free-kick performances during Arsenal's emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. While Rice's ability to execute two curved free-kicks has captivated fans and drawn acclaim, Sneijder remains unconvinced.
In a frank statement, Sneijder remarked, “I don't find these free kicks that impressive. It may seem strange, but it's extremely easy to give a ball such a curve when you know how to kick, and I know a lot about it.” The 2010 World Cup finalist attributed the success of Rice's free-kicks not solely to the midfielder's skill, but rather to defensive errors from the opposing team. “The wall is at fault here,” Sneijder added, critiquing the positioning and defensive setup that allowed the strikes to succeed.
Rice's free-kicks were pivotal in Arsenal's commanding win at the Emirates Stadium. The England international opened the scoring in the 58th minute with a sublime strike that curled around the wall and into the net.
Just 12 minutes later, Rice repeated the feat with another spectacular free-kick, this time finding the top corner. Mikel Merino added the third goal in the 75th minute, sealing Arsenal's victory and putting them in a strong position ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
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