Declan Rice is expected to be available for England’s World Cup round-of-16 showdown with Mexico despite continuing to manage an ongoing injury problem.
The Arsenal midfielder has been dealing with neural pain affecting his lower back and hamstring throughout the tournament but is still expected to retain his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI.
Rice once again demonstrated his importance during England’s dramatic 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the round of 32.
The 27-year-old completed almost the entire match before eventually asking to be substituted in stoppage time after playing through significant discomfort.
England manager Thomas Tuchel later revealed the extent of Rice’s determination after the final whistle.
“He said, ‘I can do it for the team but I am in terrible pain’,” Tuchel explained.
The England boss admitted those words carried extra weight because Rice rarely complains about physical issues.
Tuchel added that the problem was not considered a fresh injury and expressed confidence the Arsenal midfielder would recover in time for the knockout tie.
That assessment now appears to have been justified, with Rice expected to be fit enough to start against the tournament co-hosts.
The news will come as a major boost for England as they prepare for one of their toughest assignments of the competition.
Rice has been one of the team’s most influential performers throughout the World Cup despite managing the persistent discomfort.
His leadership and experience have become increasingly valuable in the knockout stages, particularly after England recovered from an early deficit to eliminate DR Congo.
The Arsenal midfielder even finished that match at right-back after Tuchel reshuffled his side during the closing stages in search of a winner.
Rice’s willingness to continue despite the pain underlined the commitment that helped Arsenal lift the Premier League title last season.
England remain more concerned over the fitness of Reece James.
The Chelsea defender has missed the last two matches with a hamstring injury and has yet to return to full training ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
Jarell Quansah has made progress in his recovery from an ankle problem after sitting out the victory over DR Congo.
However, it remains unclear whether the defender will be available for selection against Mexico.
England will be hoping Rice can once again produce another commanding display as they look to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
For Arsenal supporters, the priority will be seeing one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players continue to influence England’s campaign while avoiding any further aggravation of an injury that has already tested his resilience throughout the tournament.