Declan Rice is set to return to England's starting line-up for their Round of 32 clash against DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, July 1. The Arsenal midfielder missed the final group-stage match against Panama after suffering a heavy blow to his calf during the goalless draw with Ghana on June 23.
Rice's Injury and Recovery
Rice was unable to complete the full training programme before the Panama fixture but recovered in time to take part in England's final training session before the squad travelled to New Jersey. In his absence, England head coach Thomas Tuchel handed midfield responsibilities to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson.
Tuchel's Explanation for Rice's Omission
According to Football London, Tuchel explained that Rice was available for selection but he did not want to take unnecessary risks ahead of the knockout stages. The German coach also noted that Rice was carrying a yellow card, which influenced his decision to carefully manage the midfielder's minutes. Tuchel said: "I took care of Declan's situation. He got a knock but is ready to play, but I wanted to manage his minutes. He has a yellow card, so I wanted to see how the match played out. Is it an intense game? Are there a lot of duels? How is the referee with yellow cards? I needed to get a feel for that, and Declan understands that. That's why Jude plays in the No. 8 position and Morgan starts in the No. 10 role."
Other Injury Concerns
Tuchel's main injury concerns ahead of the knockout stages remain Chelsea defender Reece James and Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah, per BBC. James was ruled out of the victory over Panama after sustaining a hamstring injury during England's draw with Ghana.
England's Opponent: DR Congo
England finished second in their group and will face African representatives DR Congo in the knockout stage. DR Congo clinched their place among the best third-placed teams, coming from behind to defeat Uzbekistan, per TnTSports.
