Roy Keane has forecast that England will 'come up short' in their pursuit of World Cup glory this summer, ahead of their semi-final clash with Argentina. The Three Lions advanced after a gritty 2-1 victory over Norway on Saturday, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice to overturn a first-half deficit caused by Andreas Schjelderup's audacious 36th-minute opener.
Keane Questions Declan Rice's Fitness
Speaking on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, delivered by Sky Bet, the former Manchester United captain expressed concerns over midfielder Declan Rice, who was substituted at half-time in the Norway match due to illness. England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed Rice had 'spent most of the time in bed' before the game, having already missed a group-stage win over Panama with a neural hamstring issue.
Keane argued that Rice's heavy workload over recent seasons has led to a 'tipping point'. 'I always think when you get viruses that you are a bit rundown and you are feeling not great about yourself,' Keane said. 'That's when you pick up these viruses or these bugs, he's not at his strongest. He couldn't raise a gallop, could he? He's not a robot. There's been lots of pressure and over the last few years, going back to his West Ham days, he never misses a game. At some stage there's a tipping point.'
Squad Depth Not Enough, Says Keane
Despite acknowledging that fringe players could step in, Keane remains unconvinced about England's overall strength. 'I still think they'll come up short even with Rice. They're still short,' he added. However, he praised Tuchel for his proactive substitutions throughout the tournament. 'The top managers don't wait, they gamble. How many times have you been at a match and you're going, "What are they waiting for?", and he just takes the initiative.'
England vs Argentina: Semi-Final Details
The semi-final will be held at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, 15 July at 20:00 BST. Remarkably, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi could face England for the first time in his international career. The winner will meet either France or Spain in the final.
