Rice Fit for England vs Ghana Despite Back Pain
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- Declan Rice is expected to be available for England's World Cup match against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday (21:00 BST) despite suffering lower back pain during the win over Croatia.
- Rice was substituted midway through the second half after manager Thomas Tuchel noticed "unusual ball losses" and visible discomfort, with the 27-year-old Arsenal midfielder pointing to his lower back and upper hamstring.
- Thomas Tuchel said he "didn't want to take any risks" and that Rice reassured him post-match, adding: "it's nothing big to worry about."
- The back complaint is one Rice has been carrying "for a while" and will require managing throughout the tournament, according to the report.
Why it matters: Rice, 27, is a central figure in England's midfield, and a chronic back issue that the manager himself flags will need active management across a World Cup campaign. With the Ghana match in Boston on Tuesday as the next test, Tuchel's willingness to substitute him against Croatia signals he is unwilling to risk a longer-term problem for a group-stage fixture.
