Declan Rice fitness is a major plus for England ahead of their World Cup semi with Argentina, with reports that he has made good progress in his fitness since a recent illness.
The Arsenal midfielder had to pull up his bootie at half-time in England’s quarter-final victory over Norway after succumbing to a sickness bug in his preparations. Rice didn’t even report for two training sessions in the days ahead of the match and was mostly laid up in bed, with doubt about his availability for the tournament’s high-pressure moments.
Thomas Tuchel, the head coach, confirmed on Wednesday that Rice would be a limited player in the match. Both medically and from a performance management point of view, he was pulled from the side when he should have been, to guarantee that England had a vital midfield playmaker left for the semi-final.
Since the quarter-final, Rice’s condition has shown measurable improvement. Based on indicators and recovery periods, he may be headed back to the starting five. The development has a number of tactical implications for England, who need to be central to the midfield with a ball progression role, as well as providing defensive cover and discipline, which is what Rice does so well.
The Argentinean midfield is expected to dominate the game by controlling play, and Rice is a key player in that regard. His transition-breaking, structurally balanced abilities fit perfectly in line with Tuchel’s England style of play.
In terms of squad depth, England played well in the Norway fixture, but with Rice out of the game for the second half. But, the challenge of Argentina will be tougher, and his return will be a great asset.
