Declan Rice does not have any injury, Thomas Tuchel said, as he expects his influential midfielder to be in shape for England’s World Cup last-16 match against Mexico at the Azteca on Sunday.
The 27-year-old had to go off at the end of England’s late 2-1 win over Democratic Republic of Congo, having been managing nerve pain in his back over the course of the tournament.
Rice has notoriously played well over 4,000 minutes this season, leaving him as one of the most overworked of many such players at this World Cup.
The Arsenal star’s resilience and stamina means Tuchel knows that if he says something about an issue, it’s serious.
“I asked him. He said: ‘I can do it for the team but I am in terrible pain’ and when Declan tells you he is in terrible pain then you know he cannot take it anymore,” explained Tuchel.
“He was grateful we took him off but he said after the game it’s not an issue. There is no injury, I think he will recover. He was just in pain and I hope he is right. It’s more nerve pain.”
Tuchel believes Rice is capable of managing the issue from game to game and his versatility is also an important factor for England, as shown by him filling in at right-back towards the end of the Congo clash.
England’s right-back woes are well-documented and Rice was pressed into duty there for the final 12 minutes before being subbed off. He could be an option there for the Mexico match, although the player himself has admitted it’s not his favourite thing to do.
“It was probably the hardest 12 minutes of the game having a stint at right-back,” Rice said after the Congo game.
“In games like that it was probably too much of a basketball match at times, back and forth, and we had to take the sting out of it because they have fast wingers. I think we made more hard work of it than we needed to.
“I have played there two or three times this season, I know the role, it is probably not my biggest strength, but to do anything for the team and the manager.
“[With] 12 minutes left I said I would do my best and I think I did well there. Let’s see what happens next game, but hopefully I don’t have to be at right-back.”
