Arsenal captain Declan Rice gave England an early lead in their final pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica.
The Three Lions, who will play at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, will be looking to fine-tune their tactical setup before heading to the big stage.
Thanks to the great work of Anthony Gordon and Rice, they firmly established control of the encounter.
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Declan Rice goal vs Costa Rica
The goal came in the 10th minute of the match, and was a great display of direct and attacking football.
Former Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon completed a big-money move to Barcelona but caused major problems down the left flank with his ferocious runs along the perimeter.
Showing great speed and technique, Gordon breezed past the Costa Rican defenders and placed the perfectly weighted ball back into the penalty box, allowing Rice to score his first goal with his left foot, right next to the goalkeeper.
See the goals below.
Rice has been in good form since the 25/26 season heading into the World Cup.
Rice’s clinical opener is a continuation of the exceptional form he displayed throughout the 2025-26 season, during which he won the Premier League with Arsenal.
Despite suffering a heartbreaking defeat to PSG in the Champions League final just a few weeks ago, the midfielder looks incredibly sharp, fully reinvigorated and fully fit for the game.
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Stepping directly into international duty, Rice seamlessly dictates the tempo of matches while pushing high up into the final third, highlighting why he is considered an essential pillar for the national team.
The victory against Costa Rica will be a big boost for the team ahead of their important opening game against Croatia on June 17th.
