It’s a worry for England after Arsenal star Declan Rice was seen limping with his left calf tied in the mixed zone after the draw against Ghana.
The midfield engine played the full 90 minutes of this grueling match, but appeared to be under considerable physical strain by the time the final whistle blew.
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David Ornstein shares Declan Rice’s injury concerns
According to a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Rice immediately raised the alarm as he walked through the mixed media zone at Boston Stadium.
The 27-year-old was seen with a medical strap heavily wrapped around his left calf and had a very noticeable limp as he passed reporters.
At this stage, the exact severity of the injury remains completely unknown. Medical staff will no doubt spend the next few hours assessing the midfielder to determine whether he suffered a minor impact or a more concerning muscle injury.
The timing is particularly stressful for England given their quick turnaround time. The Three Lions are scheduled to face Panama in New Jersey this Saturday in their decisive Group L final game, leaving Rice with little recovery time to prove his fitness.
Rice is a key player in Thomas Tuchel’s team
Injury fears are causing major tactical headaches for England manager Thomas Tuchel. Rice is an essential pillar of strength for this team, seamlessly anchoring midfield transitions, as he demonstrated in England’s opening World Cup game against Croatia.
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The Three Lions, who were unable to overcome a defensively stubborn Ghana team in a frustrating 0-0 stalemate, need a good result against Panama to safely guarantee a place in the World Cup finals.
Losing a player with Rice’s defensive prowess and positional awareness would be a devastating blow to Tuchel’s tactical game plan.
