England’s midfielder, Declan Rice, has played a crucial role in the Three Lions’ progress at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. During the team’s 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the Round of 32, Rice filled in as a right-back, describing it as “the hardest 12 minutes of the game.” His adaptability was essential for England’s success.

England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, made a strategic decision to substitute Rice just before halftime in their match against Norway. Following England’s 2-1 victory over Norway, Tuchel explained this choice to BBC Sport, stating, “We had to take Elliot [Anderson] or Declan out. Knowing that Declan struggled after the last three days where he was most of the time in bed, I knew he cannot survive 90 minutes.”

Looking ahead to the semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, Rice is expected to have a greater impact. Craig Hope from the Daily Mail reported that Rice had been battling a sickness bug, significantly affecting his performance in Miami’s heat and humidity. Despite these setbacks, it’s understood that the 27-year-old midfielder feels much better and participated in training on Monday. Rice is also managing hamstring and back pain, but he remains optimistic about starting when England faces the reigning champions in Atlanta.

To reach the semifinal, England navigated a challenging journey. Their match against Mexico in the Round of 16 saw them play with 10 men for much of the second half at the prestigious Azteca Stadium. They became the first team since 2013 to defeat Mexico at home. In Miami, they faced Norway, enduring extreme heat and humidity that captain Harry Kane described as “harder than Mexico.”

England’s next challenge is against Lionel Messi and the defending champions, Argentina, as they strive to win the Cup for the first time since 1966. Meanwhile, France and Spain are set to compete in the other semifinal, with the World Cup final scheduled for Sunday, July 19.