The England midfielder says he has been struggling with hamstring pain since Christmas, opening up the 63-game season’s fitness and reassuring fans he is fit for Ghana.England’s first win over Croatia provided almost everything Thomas Tuchel could have wanted from the start of the World Cup campaign. Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added further goals and a 4-2 win in Dallas immediately boosted England’s hopes of finishing top of Group L.The only worry came with 18 minutes remaining.Declan Rice, one of England’s most important players and a midfielder around whom much of the team’s balance is built, was withdrawn in the 72nd minute. Given the importance of the Arsenal midfielder and the timing of the substitution, concerns quickly spread over whether England had suffered a significant injury after just one game in the tournament.Rice has now revealed that the decision was linked to a problem he had been quietly managing for more than six months.Far from being a new injury, the problem dates back to Christmas and has remained largely hidden from the public eye despite Rice continuing to play through one of the busiest seasons of his career.
The injury problem England fans didn’t know about
Speaking after the game, Rice explained that he has been dealing with neural pain in his hamstring since midway through Arsenal’s domestic campaign.I think it was a smart decision, Rice told ITV Sport.“I had a bit of a nerve pain in my hamstring which I had been struggling with for a long time after Christmas with Arsenal.“Obviously, not many people would know that. It was all behind the scenes stuff.”The problem affects the top of the knee, with pain radiating to the lower back, but Rice made it clear that England’s medical staff and coaching staff viewed the substitution as a precaution rather than a response to a serious setback.The midfielder believed that time is especially important because the final stages of matches are often when accumulated fatigue represents the greatest strain on the body.But it was a smart decision, he said.“In the end, the last 20 minutes is probably where you feel the most, and that’s where you play a 70-minute match, but the last 20 is where you really feel your body going.”
A season that rarely stopped
Rice’s comments also provide insight into the extraordinary demands placed on elite players during the modern football calendar.England’s first World Cup game against Croatia was his 63rd game of the 2025-26 season.Fifty-five of those appearances came for Arsenal, who enjoyed one of the most successful campaigns in recent history, winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final. Rice then went on to add a further eight appearances for England before and during the World Cup.The cumulative load left little room for recovery.Referring to the schedule, Rice described the demands as relentless.“It’s an obscene amount of games,” he said.“The schedule was crazy, but what can we do about it? You can’t sit back and complain.“We just have to keep going for the moments like I had in the Premier League, winning that Premier League.“You know that you should play as many games as possible to have that feeling again and to know that the World Cup is at the end.“You know he would put his body on the line to always be ready to play. It’s a lot of games, but eventually we’ll rest.”Those comments highlight why England were reluctant to take unnecessary risks against Croatia, especially with two more matches in the group.
Rice alleviates fears before Ghana
The substitution immediately raised questions about Rice’s availability for England’s second Group L game against Ghana.However, the midfielder moved quickly to reassure fans that he remains fully available and expects to be involved.“I’m ready, I’m fit, I can’t wait,” he said.“I think it was a smart decision because I felt really, really good the last few days.”England knew that a win over Ghana would put them in a commanding position to secure qualification for the knockout stages, which makes Rice’s availability particularly significant.The midfielder has become one of the most influential players in the team, providing defensive security while also helping England push the ball through the middle.
Bukaya Sake Recovery Management
Rice also addressed the fitness situation surrounding his Arsenal and England team-mate Bukaya Saka.Saka missed the start against Croatia as he continues to deal with a long-standing Achilles problem that has required close monitoring in recent months.The winger did not train with the main group on Saturday, instead following an individual program designed to manage his workload and ensure he remains available later in the tournament.Although he is not expected to start against Ghana, Rice believes England are handling the situation correctly and remains confident Saka will play an important role during the World Cup.“One hundred percent,” Rice said when asked if Saka would continue to have a starring role.“It’s really good the way we run it.“As much football as he’s played, I’ve seen him at Arsenal with that little Achilles problem he’s got. We’re definitely getting him the right way.”Saka showed his quality against Croatia despite only coming on as a substitute, setting up Marcus Rashford’s goal after coming on in the second half.
England balances ambition and fitness
England’s preparations for the tournament have included a heat acclimation camp in Florida, with Tuchel and his staff placing a strong emphasis on the squad being able to cope with the conditions they could face across North America.While Croatia’s match was played in Dallas’ air-conditioned stadium with temperatures around 22C, England will face more demanding conditions later in the tournament.Rice said Tuchel had convinced the players that the team had the fitness needed to maintain their aggressive style regardless of the weather.“The heat will dictate [our playing style] in spells,” Rice explained.“But the manager was very clear with us and with this team that we have the strength and power to surpass and outplay teams with our strength.”For now, England’s immediate focus remains Ghana and securing early promotion from Group L. Rice’s revelation offers a clearer explanation for the concerns his substitution produced against Croatia, while also highlighting the physical reality behind a season that has already stretched to 63 games.The encouraging news for England is that the midfielder, who has been quietly carrying that burden since Christmas, has insisted he is fit, available and ready to go.
