England Wait on Rice Fitness Ahead of World Cup Semi-final Against Argentina

England will leave it until the last possible moment before deciding whether Declan Rice is fit enough to start Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, although there is increasing confidence the midfielder will recover in time.

The Arsenal player has been battling the effects of a sickness bug that affected him before England’s quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami. Rice was substituted at half-time during the 2-1 extra-time win after struggling with the illness.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed after the match that Rice had spent three days in bed before taking to the field against Norway, highlighting the extent of the setback. Despite featuring in the crucial knockout match, the midfielder has not yet fully recovered.

England’s medical staff remain cautious, but Rice’s condition has improved significantly over the past two days. The illness was picked up during England’s stay in Mexico, where the team secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the tournament co-hosts in the last 16.

As preparations continue for the semi-final in Atlanta, there is growing optimism within the England camp that Rice will be available from the start. However, the final decision will depend on further assessments by the team’s medical staff, with Tuchel expected to wait until the latest possible stage before confirming his starting lineup.

Rice is also managing an ongoing neural issue that has affected his lower back and hamstring for several months. The condition has been monitored throughout the tournament and adds another factor to England’s assessment of his fitness.

Despite those concerns, Rice is expected to push to be involved given the importance of the occasion. The midfielder has played a key role in England’s World Cup campaign, starting all but one of the team’s matches. His only absence came during the 2-0 group-stage victory over Panama after an injury flare-up.

With a place in the World Cup final at stake, England will continue to monitor one of their most influential players until the final hours before kick-off. The team’s medical staff and coaching group are expected to weigh Rice’s recovery carefully before making a decision on whether he is ready to face Argentina in one of the biggest matches of England’s tournament.