Declan Rice sparks England injury fears after limping with bandaged leg after Ghana draw | OneFootball

Declan Rice has sparked fears over an injury, with the midfielder appearing to limp through the mixed zone after England’s World Cup draw with Ghana, while sporting bandaging around his left calf.

The midfielder had been an injury doubt before the group-stage 0-0, but he played the full 90 minutes – perhaps to his and England’s detriment.

Many fans will have felt it was a concerning performance in Boston as Thomas Tuchel’s side failed to break down Ghana’s intense low block, and there was a concerning scene when Rice, 27, appeared to limp through the media area.

A bandaged Declan Rice was seen limping after England drew 0-0 with Ghana (Getty)

Rice had played 72 minutes against Croatia after starting in that 4-2 win last Wednesday, with Tuchel removing the Arsenal man when Rice said he had felt discomfort in his lower back and hamstring. And now there are further worries around his fitness.

Rice will hope to be healthy to compete in England’s final group-stage game, a tie with Panama on Saturday as the Three Lions pursue a top-spot finish in Group L.

Rice is not the only England player who must manage an injury, either; his Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka entered the tournament with a long-term Achilles problem and was confined to the bench against Croatia and Ghana, before coming on in both of those games.

Rice’s own starting spot had been up in the air ahead of Tuesday’s match against Ghana, but he played the entirety of the game as Tuchel made a slew of substitutions in other positions.

The German replaced Rice’s midfield partner Elliot Anderson with Eberechi Eze, who occupied a spot higher up the pitch alongside Morgan Rogers, who had come on for Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, Saka replaced Anthony Gordon, Nico O’Reilly came on for Djed Spence, and Noni Madueke made way for Marcus Rashford.

None could provide the answer to the question of how to get through or around Ghana’s defence, however. And amid criticism of England’s performance, Tuchel said after the game: “We don’t need a wake-up call. Everyone is alert and everyone is fully committed.

“There can be no doubt. I can assure that to everyone else. There was no overconfidence in our game. Not at all. If there was anything, there was maybe in some moments a bit of over-cautious.

“It is what it is. But we have four points out of two matches and still a match to play. And we are able to win our last match and we will try to win it, of course. It is very important that the highs don’t get too high and the lows get not too low. And today is not a low, it is just a difficult match.”

England remain top of the group on four points, while Ghana also have four points, and Croatia bounced back on Tuesday by overcoming Panama 1-0. That puts the Croats on three points, while Panama are on zero having lost both of their games 1-0.