The England team is working hard to assess the physical condition of Declan Rice before making a final decision on this midfielder’s ability to start in the 2026 World Cup semifinals.
The England coaching staff will wait until right before kickoff of the 2026 World Cup semifinal match against Argentina to decide on Rice’s case. Although the midfielder on Arsenal’s payroll is making efforts to recover from a severe illness, his ability to take the pitch remains a big question mark for the “Three Lions”.
Rice has faced health issues since the 2-0 victory over Mexico in the round of 16 on July 5. The situation worsened during the preparation for the quarterfinal match against Norway in Miami.
Coach Thomas Tuchel revealed that his pupil was bedridden for three days before being forced to leave the pitch right after the first half in the 2-1 victory over Norway on July 12. Although the situation has improved significantly over the past 48 hours, the medical team remains cautious about the midfielder’s full recovery.
In addition to the medical issue, Rice has also been dealing with a nerve injury affecting his lower back and hamstring for many months. This is a factor that makes his physical condition more sensitive during the most fierce phase of the tournament.
Up to the present moment, the former West Ham captain has played almost all of the “Three Lions”‘ matches at the 2026 World Cup, only missing out on the 2-0 victory against Panama on June 27 due to a recurring injury.
The semifinal match between England and Argentina will take place on July 15, at the Mercedes-Benz stadium.
