Declan Rice is expected to be back in England’s starting XI for Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina in Atlanta, after spending nearly three days bedridden with what the team believes was food poisoning.
The Arsenal midfielder missed most of England’s prep for the quarterfinal win over Norway and was visibly drained when he did play, getting pulled at halftime. Manager Thomas Tuchel admitted after that game that Rice had no real shot at lasting the full 90 minutes. Now, according to The Times, Rice has rejoined the squad full-time and is approaching match fitness again.
This isn’t just a stomach bug situation either. Rice has been dealing with nerve-related issues in his hamstring and lower back that have lingered for weeks. So when the illness hit right before a knockout game, there was legitimate concern he might not be available for England’s biggest match since the 2018 World Cup semifinal run.
But the 27-year-old pushed through. He insisted on starting against Norway even though he was clearly not himself. His display was understandably flat, and Tuchel had no choice but to pull him at the break. It was the kind of gritty, pride-driven decision that makes teammates trust a guy even more, even if it didn’t help the team on the scoreboard that night.
Now the worry has mostly faded. Rice is expected to line up alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield, with England trying to punch their ticket to the final. If he gets the nod, it’ll be his 79th cap for the Three Lions.
Selection headaches and deadline decisions
Tuchel has a few other things to figure out before kickoff. Ezri Konsa had to come off against Norway with cramps, but he’s still in the mix to start. Reece James pushed his case with a strong shift off the bench and could get the nod instead. Bukayo Saka also made a real difference as a substitute in the quarterfinal and is knocking on the door for a starting spot.
It’s the kind of headache any manager would take heading into a semifinal. A fully fit Rice in the middle changes the whole dynamic for England. He’s the guy who breaks up attacks, keeps possession moving, and rarely makes the wrong read in big moments. Argentina will test that, no question.
Wednesday night in Atlanta could define this England group. They’ve got the depth, they’ve got the recovered star in midfield, and now it’s about execution.
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