Rice Managed Hamstring Nerve Pain All Season But Declares Himself Fit
Declan Rice has opened up about a hamstring problem that has been troubling him since Christmas, revealing he dealt with neural pain — radiating from his upper hamstring into his lower back — throughout the back end of Arsenal’s domestic and European campaign.
According to The Guardian, the issue sparked concern after Rice was substituted in the 72nd minute of England’s 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia last Wednesday. However, the midfielder moved quickly to reassure supporters, telling ITV Sport: “I’m ready and fit, raring to go.”
Rice described his early exit as a sensible precaution rather than a sign of anything serious, noting that the final stretch of matches tends to be where players pick up injuries when their bodies are under maximum strain. He said the past few days of training had felt “really, really good”.
’Obscene’ Fixture Schedule Takes Its Toll
The 26-year-old was candid about the physical cost of the season, having played 63 matches in total — 55 for Arsenal and eight for England. His club reached the finals of both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, losing to PSG and Manchester City respectively, before winning the Premier League title.
“It’s an obscene amount of games,” Rice admitted. “The schedule was crazy but what can we do about it?” He added that the reward of winning the Premier League and now competing at a World Cup made the gruelling workload worthwhile.
For UK bettors following England’s progress, Rice’s fitness is arguably the most important factor heading into Tuesday’s group game against Ghana in Boston. Check our World Cup 2026 hub for the latest betting angles, and keep an eye on the live standings as the group stage unfolds.
Saka Being Managed Carefully
Rice also addressed the fitness of his Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, who has been managing an achilles problem and came on only as a second-half substitute against Croatia. Saka set up the fourth goal but is not expected to start against Ghana, with Noni Madueke likely to retain his place on the right wing.
“Bukayo will impact this tournament,” Rice said, expressing confidence that England’s medical staff are handling Saka’s workload correctly.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s French centre-back William Saliba — ahead of France’s game against Iraq on Monday — also admitted he has been “gritting his teeth” through minor niggles for several months, choosing to push through rather than miss out on a World Cup that comes around only once every four years.