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United KingdomSports3 days ago

Thomas Tuchel sparks injury fears over Declan Rice - who he would 'never normally take off' - as England star is subbed in first World Cup win

Thomas Tuchel expressed concern over Declan Rice's potential injury after substituting him during England's first World Cup match against Croatia. Rice, who plays for Arsenal, was taken off with 18 minutes remaining due to a limp and reported feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring. Tuchel stated he would typically not remove Rice from the game but wanted to avoid risking further harm.

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By OLIVER TODD, DIGITAL HEAD OF SPORT

Published: 07:16 BST, 18 June 2026 | Updated: 14:00 BST, 18 June 2026

Thomas Tuchel says he would never normally substitute Declan Rice - but had concerns about an injury that the England's star midfielder has admitted he's been 'nursing' for weeks before the World Cup.

Rice was substituted with 18 minutes left of England's thrilling opening win against Croatia on Wednesday night..

The Arsenal star, 27, went off with a limp, to be replaced by Morgan Rogers, and had earlier sparked some concerns as part of a disjointed England performance in the first half before they turned it around to crush Croatia.

Rice himself insists he is 'all good' but boss Tuchel and England will assess him before a run of games that starts with the Three Lions' second game of Group L against Ghana on Tuesday night next week.

'Let's see, I hope they are okay,' Tuchel told  ITV in response to a question about Rice and other England injury issues. 'Normally I would never take Declan out but I didn't want to take any risk.'

Declan Rice had to be substituted by Thomas Tuchel in England's opening World Cup game

Later, he added: 'Declan pointed to his lower back, upper hamstring and feels some discomfort. I didn't want to take any risks.

'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.'

Rice himself told ITV: '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. All fine, just precaution. I'll be back out there against Ghana (England's next game).'

Rice got an assist as Harry Kane - twice - Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford scored to give England lift-off in the States.

In the World Cup's most entertaining game so far they traded goals with Croatia in the first half before a half-time dressing down from Tuchel sparked a superb performance after the break.

Winger Anthony Gordon said of Tuchel's half-time speech, speaking to talkSPORT : 'He said, "Loosen up". He said, "This is not what I see in training".

'The training sessions have been so intense - the highest level. So it wasn't what we'd done in training and he said that.

'He said, "What’s the worst that can happen - we lose the game? So what! Let’s go out and be ourselves".

'And that really kicked us into gear because we came out strong.'

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Daily MailIndependentCenter3 days ago
Thomas Tuchel sparks injury fears over Declan Rice - who he would 'never normally take off' - as England star is subbed in first World Cup win

Thomas Tuchel expressed concern over Declan Rice's potential injury after substituting him during England's first World Cup match against Croatia. Rice, who plays for Arsenal, was taken off with 18 minutes remaining due to a limp and reported feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring. Tuchel stated he would typically not remove Rice from the game but wanted to avoid risking further harm.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports-related event without taking a stance on political matters. It focuses on the substitution decision made by coach Thomas Tuchel regarding player Declan Rice during a World Cup match, providing factual information without apparent bias or ideological framing.