Thomas Tuchel provides update on Declan Rice after England's win over Croatia
England manager Thomas Tuchel explains the decision to substitute Declan Rice during the 4-2 World Cup victory against Croatia due to physical discomfort.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 / Author: Hossein Zohrevand
England midfielder Declan Rice was substituted in the 72nd minute of the Three Lions' 4-2 opening victory against Croatia at the World Cup. Manager Thomas Tuchel acted promptly to withdraw his key player after noticing signs of distress on the pitch.
Addressing the injury concerns post-match, Tuchel stated:
Declan had some unusual ball losses and I saw a bit of discomfort. I asked him and he pointed directly to his lower back and upper hamstring. I didn't want to take any risks, it was the moment to protect. Declan just reassured me at the end 'it's good' and it's nothing big to worry about. Thomas Tuchel
Rice himself remained optimistic, clarifying that the substitution was purely a precautionary measure. The Arsenal midfielder acknowledged that he has been nursing minor issues since the latter half of the Premier League season, but confirmed he expects to be available for the upcoming clash against Ghana.
England's strong second-half performance, which secured the three points in Arlington, was also attributed to a tactical shift sparked by Tuchel's halftime instructions. Captain Harry Kane praised the manager's approach, noting that the team returned to the pitch with renewed intensity and clinical finishing to overcome their opponents.