Declan Rice reveals secret ‘behind the scenes’ struggle he faced which led to early World Cup substitution

England’s Declan Rice speaks to the media during a press conference before the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) The England midfielder says he has been dealing with hamstring pain since Christmas as he claims his 63-game season has been physically missed and reassures fans of his fitness for Ghana.England’s opening win over Croatia delivered just about everything Thomas Tuchel could have wished for from the start of their World Cup campaign. Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added goals as a 4-2 win in Dallas immediately boosted England’s hopes of topping Group L.The only worry came with 18 minutes remaining.Declan Rice, one of England’s most important players and a midfielder around whom much of the team’s balance is built, was withdrawn in the 72nd minute. Given the importance of the Arsenal midfielder and the timing of the substitution, concerns quickly spread that England had suffered a significant injury setback after just one game of the tournament.Rice has now revealed that the decision was related to an issue he has been quietly dealing with for more than six months.Far from being a new injury, the issue dates back to Christmas and has remained largely hidden from public view even as Rice continues to have one of the busiest seasons of his career.

The injury problem that England fans didn’t know about

After the match, Rice explained that he had been dealing with nerve pain in his hamstring since midway through Arsenal’s home campaign.“I think it was a smart decision,” Rice told ITV Sport.“I had a bit of a nerve pain in my hamstring which I had been dealing with for a very long time after Christmas with Arsenal.“Of course not many people would know. It was all behind the scenes.”The problem is in the upper hamstring area, with the pain radiating to the lower back, but Rice made it clear that England’s medical staff and coaching staff saw the substitution as a precaution rather than a response to a serious setback.The midfielder felt that timing was particularly important as the final stages of matches often see the greatest strain on the body from accumulated fatigue.“But it was a smart decision,” he said.“At the end of the day, the last 20 minutes is probably where you take the most and it’s where you play a 70-minute game, but in the last 20 you really feel your body going through it.”

A season that rarely stopped

Rice’s comments also provide insight into the extraordinary demands placed on elite players during the modern football calendar.England’s World Cup opener against Croatia was his 63rd game of the 2025–26 season.Fifty-five of those appearances came for Arsenal, who enjoyed one of the most successful campaigns in their recent history, winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final. Rice then added a further eight appearances for England before and during the World Cup.The cumulative workload left little room for recovery.Rice reflected on the schedule, describing the demands as unrelenting.“It’s an obscene amount of games,” he said.“The schedule was crazy, but what can we do about it? You can’t sit back and complain.“We have to carry on with it the moments I had in the Premier League when I won the Premier League.“You know you would play as many games as possible to get that feeling again and know that there is also a World Cup at the end of it.“You know you’d put your body on the line to stay in the game. It’s a lot of games, but we’ll take a break at the end.”These comments highlight why England were unwilling to take unnecessary risks against Croatia, especially with two group stage games still to play.

Rice eases fears ahead of Ghana

The substitution immediately raised questions about Rice’s availability for England’s second Group L match against Ghana.However, the midfielder moved quickly to reassure fans that he is still fully available and expects to be involved.“I’m ready, I’m fit, I’m raring to go,” he said.“I think it was a smart decision because I felt really, really good the last few days.England know that a win over Ghana would put them in a prime position to secure qualification for the knockout stages, so Rice’s availability is particularly significant.The midfielder has become one of the most influential players in the squad, providing defensive security while helping England push the ball through midfield.

Management of Bukayo Saka’s recovery

Rice also addressed the fitness situation surrounding his Arsenal team-mate and England team-mate Bukayo Saka.Saka missed the start against Croatia as he continues to deal with a long-term Achilles problem that has required close monitoring in recent months.The winger did not train with the main group on Saturday, instead following an individual program designed to manage his workload and ensure he remains available later in the tournament.Although he is not expected to start against Ghana, Rice believes England are handling the situation correctly and remains confident that Saka will play an important role during the World Cup.“One hundred percent,” Rice said when asked if Saka would still play a major role.“It’s really good how we run it.“The amount of football he’s played, I’ve seen him at Arsenal with this little Achilles problem he’s got. We’re definitely managing him the right way.”Saka showed his quality against Croatia despite only appearing as a substitute when he set up Marcus Rashford’s goal after coming on in the second half.

England balances ambition and prowess

England’s preparations for the tournament have included an acclimatization camp in Florida, where Tuchel and his team have put a lot of emphasis on getting the team up to speed with the conditions they may face in North America.While the match against Croatia was played in an air-conditioned stadium in Dallas with temperatures around 22°C, England expects more demanding conditions during the tournament.Rice said the players had been reassured by Tuchel that the squad had the physicality needed to maintain their aggressive style regardless of the weather.“The heat is going to dictate (our playing style) for spells,” Rice explained.“But the manager made it really clear to us and our team that we have the power and the power to outrun and outplay teams with our strength.England’s immediate focus at the moment remains Ghana and securing early progress from Group L. Rice’s revelations offer a clearer explanation for the concerns that sparked his substitution against Croatia, while highlighting the physical reality behind a season that has already stretched to 63 games.The encouraging news for England is that the midfielder, who has been handling the workload quietly since Christmas, insists he is fit, available and ready to continue.