Declan Rice Provides Fitness Update After England's Win Over Croatia

Declan Rice eased fears over his fitness after limping off in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, insisting his withdrawal was nothing more than a precaution despite a worrying spell in the second half.

The midfielder, who had already set up Harry Kane with a sharp assist, signalled to the bench midway through the second period after feeling discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring. He lasted until the 72nd minute before the decision was made.

On the touchline, there was no hesitation.

Tuchel takes no chances

The Three Lions boss moved quickly, sacrificing one of his key pillars to avoid a bigger problem. Rice was clearly not moving freely, his usual assurance on the ball briefly deserting him.

“Declan had some unusual ball losses and I saw a bit of discomfort,” Tuchel said afterwards. “Then I asked him and he pointed directly to his lower back and upper hamstring, that he feels the discomfort. I didn't want to take any risks and if I take Declan off, which I never want to do, it was the moment to protect.

“I think Reece James did so well to replace him in midfield, he did a fantastic game. I hope it's nothing more, Declan just reassured me at the end ‘it's good, it's good’ and I know the discomfort, we will take care of it. It's nothing big to worry about.”

That last line will be replayed often over the coming days. Rice has been under the microscope since the end of the domestic season, when he required injections to get through Arsenal’s run-in as they hunted both Premier League and Champions League glory. The mileage is high, the demands even higher.

Rice: “Good as gold”

If there were any doubts over his mood, Rice did his best to crush them as he walked through media duties with a smile and no visible limp.

“All good, good as gold,” he told ITV. “Just what I’ve been nursing probably in the second half of the season, little pains here and there, but I’m all good. I'm all fine, just precaution and I’ll be back out there against Ghana.”

England will cling to that. This team is built around his presence at the base of midfield: the security, the passing lanes, the aggression without the ball. Lose that, and the whole structure shifts.

For one night at least, the story stayed on the pitch rather than in the treatment room.

“Take the shackles off”

The real turning point came long before Rice trudged off. England went into the break level after a chaotic first half, the game stretched and edgy, the goals conceded more irritating than alarming. In the dressing room, the tone changed.

Kane lifted the lid on Tuchel’s message.

“He told us to take the shackles off, calm down and let’s go,” the captain revealed. “He said what’s the worst that can happen? Show the world who we can be.

“We came out in the second half full gas and they couldn’t live with it, and that’s the level we have to set in every game. The way we controlled the game once we went ahead, we never really looked like we were in danger and then scored on the counterattack. We had a spell where we could have scored three or four. Credit to everyone: the first game of the tournament and a great result against a tough side.”

The response was immediate. England tightened their press, pushed higher, and began to pin Croatia back. Passes snapped into feet. Runs had purpose. The tempo, suddenly, belonged entirely to the men in white.

Bellingham, Rashford seal it

Once the pressure built, the goals came. Jude Bellingham, so often the emotional barometer of this side, found his moment. Marcus Rashford followed, his finish the reward for a relentless spell in which Croatia simply couldn’t get out.

By then, England were in full command in Arlington. The scoreline, 4-2, reflected both their attacking threat and the brief lapses that had irritated Rice.

“I think obviously the first half probably felt worse than what it was just because of the manner of the goals we conceded,” he said. “We had a lot of the ball, but I think in the second half you see that punch, that desire from the first minute.

“There was that extra spring in our step, the press, our strength, the way we went forward, the way we created chances in the second half, and the keeper had a worldie. So, yeah, all round I think it was a great performance.”

The result leaves England in control of Group L and already eyeing their next assignment. The question now is simple: with Rice declaring himself ready to go again against Ghana, can this side keep that second-half standard as their new baseline?