Tuchel Provides Update on Declan Rice's Condition After Croatia Win
Thomas Tuchel moved quickly to calm England nerves after Declan Rice was withdrawn during the 4-2 win over Croatia, insisting his midfield linchpin should be ready to face Ghana in their next World Cup group game.
Rice, who had been central to England’s high-tempo, front-foot performance in their 2026 opener, signalled discomfort midway through the second half and was substituted as a precaution. The sight of him heading straight off, though, sent a ripple of anxiety through an England support that knows exactly how important he has become.
Tuchel, speaking after the game, explained the decision in blunt terms. He had seen enough.
“Declan had some unusual ball losses and I saw a bit of discomfort,” the England manager said. When he checked with his midfielder on the touchline, Rice pointed to his lower back and upper hamstring. That was all Tuchel needed. No gamble. Not in game one of a World Cup.
“I didn’t want to take any risk, so I decided to take Declan off, which I never wanted to do,” Tuchel admitted, underlining just how well Rice had played up to that point. The Arsenal man had controlled the middle of the pitch for long spells, knitting England’s play together and setting the tempo in and out of possession.
The change opened the door for Reece James to step into central midfield, a role he has flirted with at club level but rarely on this stage. Tuchel was quick to praise the Chelsea defender’s impact, highlighting how seamlessly he slotted into the heart of the team and helped England see out a wild, open contest.
Rice, for his part, was just as keen to draw a line under any talk of a serious problem. He described the issue as something he has been “nursing” since the latter part of last season with Arsenal – “little neural pains here and there,” as he put it – rather than a fresh injury.
“All good, good as gold,” he said, stressing that the substitution was purely precautionary and that he fully expects to be available when England face Ghana.
Tuchel echoed that optimism. He called Rice’s display “fantastic” and said the midfielder had personally reassured him at full-time that the discomfort was familiar and manageable. The medical staff will monitor him in the coming days, but the early message from both manager and player is clear: no major alarm.
England have built much of their modern identity around Rice’s authority at the base of midfield. Losing him for any length of time would reshape this World Cup campaign in an instant. For now, though, the plan is simple: manage the pain, protect the player, and have him back anchoring the side when Ghana arrive.
