Declan Rice reveals secret ‘behind-the-scenes’ struggle he had been dealing with that led to early World Cup substitution | Football News
England midfielder says he has been managing hamstring nerve pain since Christmas as he opens up on the physical toll of a 63-match season and reassures fans over his fitness for Ghana.England’s opening victory over Croatia delivered almost everything Thomas Tuchel could have wanted from the start of a World Cup campaign. Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added further goals, and a 4-2 victory in Dallas immediately strengthened England’s hopes of finishing top of Group L.The only concern arrived with 18 minutes remaining.Declan Rice, one of England’s most important players and the midfielder around whom much of the team’s balance is built, was withdrawn in the 72nd minute.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, concern quickly spread about whether England had suffered a significant injury setback after only one match of the tournament.Rice has now revealed that the decision was linked to an issue he has 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 public view despite Rice continuing to play through one of the busiest seasons of his career.
The injury problem England fans did not know about
Speaking after the match, Rice explained that he has been dealing with neural pain in his hamstring since the middle of Arsenal’s domestic campaign.“I think it was a smart decision,” Rice told ITV Sport.“I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time.“Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind the scenes stuff.”The issue affects the upper hamstring area, with the pain radiating into his lower back, but Rice made clear that England’s medical staff and coaching team viewed the substitution as a precaution rather than a response to a serious setback.The midfielder felt the timing was particularly important because the closing stages of matches are often when accumulated fatigue places the greatest strain on the body.“But it was a smart decision,” he said.“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match, but that last 20 is where you really feel your body going through it.”
A season that rarely stopped
Rice’s comments also provide an insight into the extraordinary demands placed on elite players during the modern football calendar.England’s World Cup opener against Croatia was his 63rd match of the 2025-26 season.Fifty-five of those appearances came for Arsenal, who enjoyed one of the most successful campaigns in their recent history, winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final. Rice then added a further eight appearances for England before and during the World Cup.The cumulative workload has left little room for recovery.Reflecting on 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 and complain.“We have to just get on with it for the moments like I had in the Premier League, winning that Premier League.“You know you’d play as many games as possible to have that feeling again and knowing that there’s a World Cup at the end of it as well.“You know you’d put your body on the line to be always in to play. It’s a lot of games but we’ll get our break at the end.”Those comments underline why England were unwilling to take unnecessary risks against Croatia, particularly with two more group-stage fixtures still to play.
Rice eases fears ahead of Ghana
The substitution immediately created questions about Rice’s availability for England’s second Group L match against Ghana.However, the midfielder moved quickly to reassure supporters that he remains fully available and expects to be involved.“I’m ready, I’m fit, raring to go,” he said.“I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”England know a victory over Ghana would put them in a commanding position to secure qualification for the knockout stages, making Rice’s availability particularly significant.The midfielder has become one of the most influential players in the squad, providing defensive security while also helping England progress the ball through midfield.
Managing Bukayo Saka’s recovery
Rice also addressed the fitness situation surrounding his Arsenal and England teammate Bukayo Saka.Saka missed the start against Croatia as he continues to manage a longstanding Achilles issue that has required careful monitoring throughout recent months.The winger did not train with the main group on Saturday, instead following an individual programme 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 that Saka will play an important role during the World Cup.“Hundred percent,” Rice said when asked whether Saka would still have a major part to play.“It’s really good the way we’re managing him.“The amount of football he’s played, I’ve seen him at Arsenal with this little Achilles problem he’s got. We’re managing him the right way for sure.”Saka showed his quality against Croatia despite only appearing as a substitute, creating Marcus Rashford’s goal after entering the match in the second half.
England balancing ambition and fitness
England’s preparation for the tournament included a heat-acclimatisation camp in Florida, with Tuchel and his staff placing a strong emphasis on ensuring the squad could cope with the conditions they may face across North America.While the Croatia match was played inside Dallas’ air-conditioned stadium with temperatures set around 22C, England expect more demanding conditions later in the tournament.Rice said the players have been reassured by Tuchel that the squad possesses the physical conditioning required to maintain their aggressive style regardless of the weather.“The heat’s going to dictate [our playing style] in spells,” Rice explained.“But the manager’s been really clear with us and with this squad that we have the strength and power to outrun and outplay teams with our strength.”For now, England’s immediate focus remains Ghana and securing early progression from Group L. Rice’s revelation offers a clearer explanation for the concern generated by his substitution against Croatia, while also highlighting the physical reality behind a season that has already stretched to 63 matches.The encouraging news for England is that the midfielder who has quietly managed that burden since Christmas insists he is fit, available and ready to continue.
