Tuchel Plays Down Declan Rice Injury Fear After England’s 4-2 World Cup Win Over Croatia

England began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, but the match left supporters and coaching staff monitoring the condition of Declan Rice, who was withdrawn in the second half after signalling discomfort to the bench.

The 27-year-old had been one of England’s more influential players in the contest, contributing an assist for a Harry Kane goal before his evening was cut short. Rice was seen pointing to his lower back and upper hamstring area before requesting to be replaced, prompting immediate concern given his importance to England’s midfield structure.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Thomas Tuchel confirmed the substitution was precautionary rather than the result of a serious injury. “Declan had some unusual ball losses, and I saw a bit of discomfort,” the England manager said. “He pointed directly to his lower back and upper hamstring… I didn’t want to take any risks.”

Tuchel also relayed a brief exchange with Rice at the final whistle that appeared to offer some reassurance. “I hope it’s nothing more. Declan just reassured me at the end, ‘It’s good, it’s good’… It’s nothing big to worry about,” he added.

According to reports, Rice had been managing his physical condition with injections during the final weeks of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League campaign, suggesting the midfielder had been carrying a degree of discomfort into the tournament.

The development adds a layer of uncertainty to England’s preparations ahead of their next group-stage fixture. Rice has been a central figure under Tuchel’s setup, operating as the primary holding midfielder responsible for protecting the defence and facilitating build-up play. His absence, even for a single match, would represent a significant disruption to England’s tactical framework.

Elsewhere in the same fixture, Harry Kane’s goal contribution saw him surpass a notable World Cup scoring milestone, adding further context to what was a landmark evening for the national side despite Rice’s early departure.

England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia was a reversal of the recent competitive history between the two sides at major tournaments, with Croatia having eliminated England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final stage in Russia. The result will be considered an encouraging start, though Tuchel’s medical staff are expected to assess Rice further in the coming days before any definitive update on his availability is issued.