Rice Expected to Feature in Next World Cup Fixture
Declan Rice, the England midfielder, is projected to be available for the upcoming World Cup encounter against Ghana. This comes despite his experiencing lower back pain during England's opening match against Croatia, which necessitated his substitution in the second half.
Managing Ongoing Back Issue
Sources indicate that the back issue, which led to his replacement by Morgan Rogers in the 72nd minute, is not expected to sideline Rice for the game against Ghana, scheduled for Tuesday in Boston at 21:00. It is understood that the 27-year-old Arsenal player has been managing this particular complaint for some time, and it will require continued attention throughout the tournament.
Manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the situation after the Croatia match: "Declan had some unusual ball losses and I saw a bit of discomfort. And then 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 risks, I hope it's nothing more. Declan just reassured me at the end. We will take care of it, and it's nothing big to worry about."
The manager's statement suggests confidence in Rice's recovery, implying that the discomfort is a manageable condition rather than a severe injury. The team's medical staff will closely monitor the midfielder's condition to ensure he can continue to contribute to England's World Cup campaign.
Source: BBC Sport