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  "path": "/sport/football/declan-rice-injury-update-england-world-cup-croatia",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-18T06:56:40.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over Croatia",
    "Premier League club at risk of points deduction before season even starts",
    "Wayne Rooney's new look astonishes football fans during BBC World Cup coverage",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nDeclan Rice has eased fears over his fitness after admitting he has been dealing with a niggling problem for weeks following England's dramatic 4-2 victory over Croatia at the World Cup.\n\nThe Arsenal midfielder was substituted with 18 minutes remaining in Dallas after appearing to struggle physically during England's tournament opener, prompting concerns among supporters and manager Thomas Tuchel alike.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRice, whose father Sean and partner Lauren Fryer watched from the stands, left the field limping and was replaced by Morgan Rogers as England closed out an entertaining contest.\n\nDespite the worrying scenes, the 27-year-old insists there is no major issue and expects to be available when England return to action against Ghana in their second Group L fixture next Tuesday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n\"All good. Good as gold,\" Rice told ITV after the match.\n\n\"Just what I've been nursing probably in the second half of the season at Arsenal.\n\n\"Little neural pains here and there. But yeah, I'm all good. All fine, just precaution. I'll be back out there against Ghana.\"\n\nRice played a key role in England's victory, registering an assist as Harry Kane struck twice, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also found the net.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, Tuchel revealed he was unwilling to gamble with one of his most influential players despite Rice reassuring him that the discomfort was not serious.\n\n\"Let's see, I hope they are okay,\" Tuchel said when asked about England's fitness concerns.\n\n\"Normally I would never take Declan out but I didn't want to take any risk.\"\n\nThe England boss later explained that Rice had reported pain in several areas.\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over Croatia\n  * Premier League club at risk of points deduction before season even starts\n  * Wayne Rooney's new look astonishes football fans during BBC World Cup coverage\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Declan pointed to his lower back, upper hamstring and feels some discomfort,\" Tuchel added.\n\n\"I didn't want to take any risks.\n\n\"It was a moment to protect him. I hope it's nothing more. Declan reassured me at the end it's good. It's nothing big to worry about.\"\n\nEngland endured a difficult opening 45 minutes against Croatia, producing a disjointed display before Tuchel's half-time intervention inspired a remarkable turnaround.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWinger Anthony Gordon lifted the lid on the manager's dressing-room message, revealing Tuchel urged his players to play with greater freedom.\n\n\"He said, 'Loosen up',\" Gordon told talkSPORT.\n\n\"He said, 'This is not what I see in training'.\n\n\"The training sessions have been so intense - the highest level. So it wasn't what we'd done in training and he said that.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"He said, 'What's the worse that can happen - we lose the game? So what! Let's go out and be ourselves'.\n\n\"And that really kicked us into gear because we came out strong.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWith Rice now insisting he is fit and Tuchel hopeful the problem is only minor, England will be optimistic their midfield talisman will be ready to face Ghana as they look to secure their place in the knockout stages.\n\nAfter that, they'll do battle with Panama on June 27.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Declan Rice gives injury update after being forced out of England World Cup win against Croatia"
}