Declan Rice fitness update given after midfielder’s substitution against Croatia | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel is confident Declan Rice will be fit for England’s next group game against Ghana after being taken off in the second half of the win over Croatia.

Rice helped his side to a 4-2 win in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup but was substituted in the second half due to “discomfort”, England boss Tuchel revealed afterwards.

“Declan had some unusual ball losses and I saw a bit of discomfort,” Tuchel said. “I asked him, and he pointed directly to his lower back, upper hamstring, that he feels the discomfort.

“I didn’t want to take any risk, so I decided to take Declan off , which I never wanted to do, but it was the moment to protect him, and I think Reece James did so well to replace him in the central midfield.

“[Rice] had a fantastic game, so I hope it’s nothing more, and he just reassured me at the end that it’s good and he knows the discomfort. We will take care of it, and this is nothing big to worry about.”

Rice has also insisted it is nothing serious, saying afterwards: “All good, good as gold. Just what I’ve been nursing, probably, in the second half of the season at Arsenal, little neural pains here and there.

“But yeah, I’m all good, I’m all fine, just precaution and I’ll be back out there again against Ghana.”