England opened its World Cup campaign on 18 June 2026 with an impressive 4-2 win over Croatia, but manager Thomas Tuchel said the match raised a concern about Declan Rice’s condition. Tuchel explained that he removed the midfielder early because Rice indicated discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring area. “Usually, I would never take him off,” Tuchel said, adding that he did not want to take any risks.
Rice still drew praise in Britain for assisting Harry Kane and for his delivery on set pieces. Even so, some analysts felt the Arsenal midfielder was less dominant than usual. The Guardian said Rice was not as commanding in central midfield as he normally is and appeared to be carrying fatigue from a long season with Arsenal.
Sky Sports also highlighted Rice’s importance, noting that Kane’s role stood out but that England’s second goal came from an excellent corner by Rice. Kane, for his part, said the team needs Rice at his best. The concern now is whether the midfielder’s discomfort will affect England further as the tournament continues.
