Declan Rice is one of England’s most important players, but the Arsenal midfielder has left the Three Lions with a huge injury worry
Declan Rice was seen “limping” off the pitch during England’s World Cup clash with Croatia. Rice, 27, partnered Nottingham Forest ace Elliot Anderson in the middle of the Three Lions’ midfield.
However, in the second half, he was substituted by Thomas Tuchel who took the Arsenal midfielder off for Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence, a move which saw Reece James be moved into central midfield.
After the substitution had been made, ITV commentator Sam Matterface said Rice was seen “limping” as he exited the pitch. England fans and Thomas Tuchel will be crossing their fingers hoping whatever happened to Rice is not serious.
At this point, it’s unclear as to what exactly caused Rice to limp off the pitch as he did. In March, in England’s final international break before the World Cup, Tuchel said the former West Ham United skipper had been playing through the pain barrier throughout the Premier League campaign.
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When both of the Gunners had left the international camp, Tuchel said: “He feels a discomfort since quite a while, and he’s playing through it.
“He is just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70 per cent [fitness] and push myself and push myself?’ And the same with Bukayo.”
Last season, Rice made 55 appearances in the Gunners’ marathon campaign. He only missed two Premier League matches throughout the campaign and played in all but two matches in the north Londoners’ run to the Champions League final.
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