England opened its World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia on June 18, 2026, but manager Thomas Tuchel said the early substitution of Declan Rice was a precaution. Tuchel said, “Usually, I would never take him off,” adding that Rice pointed to the lower back and upper hamstring area and said he felt discomfort, so “I did not want to take any risks.”
Rice had already contributed to England’s performance by setting up Harry Kane and helping with set pieces, but some British analysts felt the Arsenal midfielder was not as dominant as he has been throughout the season. The Guardian wrote that Rice was not as controlling in midfield as usual and appeared to be carrying fatigue from a long club season with Arsenal.
Sky also highlighted Rice’s role, saying Kane’s importance was clear, but England’s second goal came from an excellent corner delivered by Rice. The match left England with three points, but also with a potential fitness concern over one of their key midfielders as the tournament continues.
