After the draw with England, there were injury concerns for Declan Rice as the Arsenal star limped off
Worry for England as Arsenal star Declan Rice was seen limping and with his left calf strapped in the mixed zone after the draw against Ghana.
The midfield engine played the full 90 minutes of the grueling encounter but appeared to have taken a significant physical toll by the final whistle.
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David Ornstein shares Declan Rice’s injury concerns
According to a report from David Ornstein of Athletic.Rice immediately raised the alarm as she walked through the mixed media area at Boston Stadium.
The 27-year-old was seen with his left calf tightly wrapped by medical straps and was very visibly limping as he made his way past reporters.
At this stage, the exact extent of the damage remains unclear. Medical staff will no doubt examine the midfielder in the coming hours to determine whether he has suffered a minor knock or a more worrying muscle strain.
The timing is particularly tight for England given their fast turnaround times. The Three Lions are scheduled to face Panama in New Jersey this coming Saturday for their final, crucial Group L encounter, leaving Rice with very little recovery time to prove his fitness.
? Declan Rice walked through the mixed zone with his left leg strapped and a noticeable limp after #England Draw 0-0 with #Ghana in the 2nd match of #2026 World Cup in football. Severity unclear ahead of Group L’s final game vs #Panama in New Jersey this Saturday @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/1lKh7u1Aaq pic.twitter.com/4uw7NU59oU
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 24, 2026
Rice is a key player in Thomas Tuchel’s squad
The injury scare is a major tactical headache for England manager Thomas Tuchel. Rice is an indispensable pillar of strength for this team, anchoring the transition in midfield seamlessly, as demonstrated in England’s win over Croatia in their first World Cup.
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After failing to break down a defensively stubborn Ghana side in a disappointing 0-0 stalemateThe Three Lions still need a positive result against Panama to safely secure a place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
Losing a player of Rice’s defensive caliber and positional awareness would be a devastating blow to Tuchel’s tactical game plan.
