England fans were worried that Declan Rice was injured in Wednesday’s game against Croatia after the Arsenal star was sent off in the 73rd minute.
Declan Rice addresses concerns about his fitness (Image: ITV)
Declan Rice insists he is ready to “put his body on the line” and bring the best to the World Cup. Rice made his 63rd appearance of the season in England’s group opener against Croatia, but admitted the schedule had been “crazy” and he had played an “obscene” amount of games for club and country.
The Arsenal midfielder was substituted against Dallas and admitted he has been suffering from a back problem since Christmas, which should raise concerns about his fitness level in this competition. It’s not just rice. Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka is also monitoring his fitness due to a lingering problem with his Achilles tendon, which shows the demands placed on players.
But Rice is fit and ready to play and hopes to start every game, including the next group game against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. Rice told ITV: “Good luck, obviously it’s a crazy amount of games.
“The schedule is crazy but what can we do? We can’t sit back and complain. We just have to get on with the moment, just like we did when we won that Premier League.”
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“I’ll play as many games as I can to get that feeling again, and I know at the end of it there’s the World Cup. You know you’re going to be here all the time and put your body on the line to play. It’s a lot of games, but at the end you’ll take a break.”
“Of course, it’s still up to me to go out there and perform that day. And that’s the thing about football. When you go into a match, you always want the best version of yourself to come out. But sometimes I feel like you’re a little bit like a tennis player or a golfer.”
“Sometimes you can play your game, and sometimes you can’t play your game. People are always trying to find their best level and I was able to do that for a lot of this season, and of course I want to carry that into the World Cup.”
Rice was substituted in the 72nd minute against Croatia, but will obviously have to keep an eye on his back problem which could affect his mobility and hamstrings. But Rice is a player who really wants to play and doesn’t like to sit still. Even after Arsenal won the title and Rice and a few others went out to party…the next day he headed to the golf course without much sleep.
Can England afford to rest Delkan Rice? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Declan Rice says he’s ‘fit and well’ (Image: Francois Nel/Getty Images)
“Obviously I’ve been blessed and fortunate to have been able to play as many games as I’ve been able to in my career, which is unbelievable for someone my age. I just love playing football. I love durability,” Rice said.
“I love the rhythm of playing three games a week for the club. I hate playing once a week and having to wait another week for the next game day. I like to keep the momentum going and I’ve always done that throughout my career so it comes naturally to me.”
“I’m ready, I’m fit and I want to start early. I think it was a wise decision to leave. I had a bit of a nerve in my hamstring, which I’ve been dealing with for a long time since after Christmas at Arsenal.
“Obviously not many people knew that. It all happened behind the scenes. The last 20 minutes is probably where you feel the most and that’s where you play a 70-minute game.”
“But the last 20 minutes is when I feel like my body is feeling really good. And I felt really, really good the last few days, so I think it was a smart decision.”
That’s true for Saka, too, but Rice believes his teammates and friends can also have a big impact in this tournament. Rice added: “One hundred percent. I think the way we’ve managed him has been really good. That’s what I said.”
“With how much football he’s played, we’ve seen him at Arsenal with a bit of an Achilles problem. I think we’re definitely managing him in the right way. I don’t think we want to throw him in right now and put him at risk. He’s been training really well as he’s been strengthening the squad.”
“He came on last night and had a great impact, but B is one of them. We play together and he wants to play in every game, but he’s playing smart here. And we also have Noni, who for me has had an unbelievable performance in these opening games.”
Rice also said he had found the “perfect” midfield partner in Elliott Anderson. England’s midfield engine room works well together and manager Thomas Tuchel currently sees them as his first-choice duo.
Arsenal midfielder Rice said they fit in well despite being quite similar in style, but that their understanding will help them get through tough matches. Asked about Anderson, Rice told ITV: “This player has been a really, really good player from the moment he came into this England squad. He’s improved his level, his confidence on the ball has improved. He’s very energetic and can play all three roles in midfield.”
“If I were to play against him, I’d say I’ve played against him. He’s one of those players who is constantly on the move, which is really difficult for a midfielder. He always wants the ball in the right area and always makes a killer pass. He’s also a great player. I respect him a lot. He’s a great player. I respect him a lot.”
“I think he’s exactly the player we need. He fits perfectly with the way Tuchel wants to play. I love playing with him. We have a similar profile in a way, but we really bounce off each other.”
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are England’s midfield duo (Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“We talk about our connections and how we want to play against each other. We’re always building on little things, even in training. So it’s good.”
Rice also said that the two were able to prove their authority against Croatia, despite being opponents at times. “Of course, in important games you want to control the ball, but there is always uncertainty in a football game and teams always only get 10 or 15 minutes in a game.
“So I have to be smart in every phase of the play and when I play next to him I feel like he understands the game so well that when I don’t have the ball I’m going to be compact and tight, but when I have the ball I’m going to try to get into it and make things happen.”
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