Declan Rice has shared insights into his struggle with nerve pain in his hamstring, a condition he has been managing since the Christmas season, while reflecting on the demanding schedule of matches he has faced this year.
The England midfielder raised alarms when he was replaced in the 72nd minute during last Wednesday’s 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia. The discomfort he experiences is linked to the upper hamstring, radiating into his lower back. However, Rice deemed his substitution a “I’m ready and fit, raring to go,” decision, affirming his readiness for England’s next group game against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
“I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision. “In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.” he told ITV Sport. “I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“It’s an obscene amount of games,”
This season, Rice has participated in 63 matches, 55 of which were with Arsenal and eight for the national team. His club reached both the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals, suffering defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, while also securing the Premier League title.
“The schedule was crazy but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain. We have to just get on with it for the moments like I had in the Premier League winning that Premier League. You know you’d play as many games as possible to have that feeling again and knowing that there’s a World Cup at the end of it, as well. You know you’d put your body on the line to be always in to play. It’s a lot of games but we’ll get our break at the end.” Rice noted. “The heat’s going to dictate [our playing style] in spells but the manager’s been really clear with us and with this squad that we have the strength and power to outrun and outplay teams with our strength,”
As England began their acclimatization camp in Florida at the beginning of June, players were aware of the challenges posed by North America’s heat and humidity. The match against Croatia was held in a controlled environment in Dallas, maintaining a temperature of 22°C. Fortunately, similar conditions are anticipated for the 4pm local kick-off (9pm BST) at Boston’s open-air stadium. Rice expects to face much hotter conditions later in the tournament but reassured that manager Thomas Tuchel has addressed their physical preparedness.
“Bukayo will impact this tournament,” Rice explained.
Rice also touched upon the fitness situation of teammate Bukayo Saka, who has been dealing with an Achilles issue. Saka only managed to come on as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Croatia but made a significant impact by assisting Marcus Rashford’s fourth goal. He participated in a specialized training program over the weekend and is not expected to start against Ghana, with Noni Madueke likely to take his position on the right wing.
“It’s really good the way we’re managing him. I think the amount of football he’s played – I’ve seen him at Arsenal – this little achilles problem he’s got. I think we’re managing him the right way, for sure. “I don’t think you want to put him in straight away and put him at risk. We need to keep building him in. He’s been training really well. He came on and had an amazing impact the other night. He’s one of the biggest game players I’ve played with and he wants to play every game. But here he’s being smart. And we also have Noni who, for me, has been unbelievable.” Rice expressed. “It’s really good the way we’re managing him. I think the amount of football he’s played – I’ve seen him at Arsenal – this little achilles problem he’s got. I think we’re managing him the right way, for sure.
“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,”
Another Arsenal player, William Saliba, is also enduring discomfort this season as he strives for World Cup success.
“I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes round only once every four years so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100% but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100% either – you can’t make excuses.” he stated before Monday’s match against Iraq. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes round only once every four years so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100% but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100% either – you can’t make excuses.”
