Declan Rice has vowed to give everything for England at the World Cup this summer, despite admitting he has been playing through a lower back injury since Christmas. The Arsenal midfielder, who was forced off in England's win over Croatia, declared he is prepared to put his 'body on the line' for his country.
Rice's Injury and Fitness Concerns
Rice conceded the fixture schedule has been 'crazy' and that he has played an 'obscene' number of matches for both club and country. His appearance against Croatia marked his 63rd game of the season. The 27-year-old has been carrying a lower back complaint since Christmas, a revelation that casts some doubt over his fitness heading into the tournament.
Rice is not alone in his struggles, with Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka also carefully managing his fitness due to a persistent Achilles issue. This highlights the extraordinary physical toll placed on top-level players.
Rice's Determination to Play
Yet Rice remains emphatic that he is fit, primed to play, and determined to feature from the start in every fixture, including the upcoming Group stage clash with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. Speaking to ITV, Rice said: 'You get on with it. Obviously, it's an obscene amount of games. The schedule is crazy but what can we do about it? You can't sit and complain.'
'We have to just get on with it for the moments like I had in the Premier League winning that Premier League. You know you'd play as many games as possible to have that feeling again. And knowing there's a World Cup at the end of it as well.'
'You know you'd put your body on the line to be here always and to play. It's a lot of games, but we'll get our break at the end.'
Managing the Injury
Rice was withdrawn after 72 minutes against Croatia, and England's backroom staff will need to keep a close eye on his back complaint, which could potentially hamper his mobility and place strain on his hamstrings. Rice explained: 'I think it was a smart decision to come off. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time.'
'Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind the scenes stuff. That last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it's where you play a seventy minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going through it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.'
Rice's Love for Football
Rice is the sort of player who thrives on action and simply cannot switch off. He added: 'Obviously I've been blessed and fortunate enough to have played in as many games as I can so far in my career, an insane amount of games for my age. I just love playing football. I love being durable.'
'I love having that rhythm of playing three games a week at club. I wouldn't like playing once a week, having to wait until another week until the next matchday. I like to keep the momentum going, and I've always been like that throughout my career, so it's just come natural to me.'
'I'm ready, I'm fit, raring to go.'
