England's goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday at the World Cup has been overshadowed by an injury concern over midfielder Declan Rice. The Arsenal star was seen limping after the match in Boston, with his left calf strapped, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.
Rice's injury status unclear
Ornstein posted on X: 'Declan Rice walked through mixed zone with left calf strapped & noticeable limp after England 0-0 draw with Ghana in 2nd match at 2026 FIFA World Cup. Severity unclear ahead of last Group L game against Panama.' Rice had previously admitted he was nursing a neural issue for months, saying he was 'good as gold' but managing 'little neural pains here and there' from the second half of the season at Arsenal.
Impact on England's World Cup campaign
Thomas Tuchel's side currently sit second in Group L after the draw, but can still top the group by beating Panama on Saturday. Rice's potential absence would be a significant blow, as he has been a key player under both Tuchel and former boss Gareth Southgate. The 27-year-old was booked against Ghana, meaning another yellow card against Panama would trigger a suspension for the first knockout match. Tuchel may opt to rest Rice, with Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson available as replacements.
Reaction from Rice and Tuchel
After the match, Rice commented on the difficult defensive setup: 'It is always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball as deep as they were, but you have to find solutions. In the last 10 minutes, we were unlucky not to score. We still have a great chance to top the group against Panama, so positivity all round.' He added: 'They were very compact, 5-4-1 off the ball and tight spaces to play through, but on the other hand we can do more with the ball. You have to give credit to Ghana. It's tough and they are good players so it was never going to be an easy game.'
Group L standings and next match
England face Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, needing a win to secure top spot. The Three Lions remain favorites to advance, but Rice's fitness will be a major concern ahead of the knockout stages.
