The Three Lions receive a massive fitness boost as their star midfielder overcomes agonising hamstring pain to face Martin Odegaard’s clinical Norway side in Miami for a spot in the World Cup semi-final.
Declan Rice is fit and ready to start England’s crunch tie with Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final, Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.
There has been significant worry about the fitness of England’s star midfielder who has admitted he is "just in so much pain" with a neural hamstring injury that he has been nursing since the turn of the new year. Rice has criticised the amount of games that he and his fellow countrymen have had to play over the last season, describing it as an "obscene amount of games."
Despite the frustration, there is no denying the commitment to the cause. Rice said "I’m in terrible pain every game but I can do it for the team. You can feel it just sitting there."
Despite injury fears, Declan Rice has been cleared fit by the England medical team and is relishing the opportunity to qualify for England’s 4th ever World Cup semi-final. In their way is current Arsenal teammate and club captain, Martin Odegaard. Rice has had his say on his club captain and on the type of game he thinks England will face this evening. "Martin is really, really good. He has the respect of everyone, which is vital for a captain."
On Norway as a whole, there is no doubt that Rice mentioned one main man when asked about what he expects from Stale Solbakken’s side in Miami. "They’ve got world class players. Erling Haaland speaks for himself, and Martin is really, really good."
Declan Rice and Thomas Tuchel deep in conversation at the Azteca as England come away 2-3 winners, earning themselves a spot in the FIFA World Cup quarter-fianls (Reuters)England will be hoping that their fixture will bring less drama and nerves than the 2-3 victory over Mexico in the Azteca in the RO16, and the inclusion of Declan Rice in the midfield will hopefully calm the worries of England players and fans alike with his probably inclusion in the Starting XI a major boost for Thomas Tuchel.
England kick off this evening (10pm UK time) in Miami against Norway, in search of the semi-final in which they hope will turn into a first World Cup trophy since 1966. England must be wary of their opponents though, with an impressive scalp of Brazil already in their locker, the Three Lions can in no way underestimate who they’re coming up against tonight.
Victory for England tonight will see them come up against one of Argentina or Switzerland next Wednesday.
Getting through that will take them to the promised land where one of Spain or France will be waiting for a shot at the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy alongside an extra star on the badge and the nickname ‘Champions of the World.’ England had always set their sights high for this tournament and they are just three wins away from returning as national heroes, and the inclusion of Declan Rice tonight is a huge factor in helping them get there, it feels.
