Declan Rice opens up about dealing with a personal issue behind the scenes that caused him to be taken off during the England game.
Declan Rice has opened up about dealing with a tough injury that caused him to come off early during England’s game against Croatia. In what was one of the most exciting matches of the 2026 World Cup, England had a fantastic start with a thrilling 4-2 win at Dallas Stadium. Harry Kane scored twice, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford each added a goal, helping England kick off their campaign strongly and boosting their chances to top Group L.
But England fans got a bit worried when Rice was taken off with 18 minutes left, sparking concerns about an injury. This was Rice’s 63rd game of the 2025/26 season, after a busy year with Arsenal, who won the Premier League and made it to the Champions League final. Now, Rice has shared the reason behind his early substitution: he’s been quietly managing a hamstring injury for over six months.
Rice told ITV Sport, “I think it was a smart choice to be taken off. I was feeling some nerve pain in my hamstring, something I’ve been dealing with since Christmas while playing for Arsenal. Not many people knew about it because it was all behind the scenes. But sitting out those last twenty minutes was smart because that’s when your body really feels the strain.”
The substitution caused some worry about Rice’s fitness ahead of England’s next match against Ghana on Tuesday. But the 27-year-old quickly calmed those fears, saying, “I’m ready, fit, and excited to play. I felt really good the last few days, so it was the right call to rest.”
Another England star dealing with injury doubts is Rice’s Arsenal teammate, Bukayo Saka. Saka, who was crucial for England at Euro 2024, missed the opener due to a long-term Achilles problem, disappointing fans. He didn’t train with the team recently but is following a special program and is expected to play during the World Cup. When asked about Saka’s role, Rice said, “Absolutely. We’re managing him well. I’ve seen him handle this Achilles issue at Arsenal, and we’re making sure it’s done the right way for him.”