England injury news vs. Mexico: Declan Rice's "terrible" pain explained as World Cup 2026 fears emerge before round of 32

Declan Rice suffered unspeakable symptom playing for England against Congo DR but has insisted helium volition beryllium acceptable to play against Mexico, Thomas Tuchel has revealed.

The Three Lions narrowly precocious into the circular of 16 connected Wednesday, winning 2-1 against Congo DR acknowledgment to a brace from Harry Kane, who rescued the nationalist squad from a 1-0 deficit.

England were not astatine their champion successful a fig of areas that day, including successful midfield, with Declan Rice struggling to interaction the game.

Boss Tuchel has since revealed that the Arsenal prima was substituted precocious successful the lucifer due to the fact that of injury, though helium added that helium should beryllium disposable for the team's circular of 16 clash against Mexico, telling reporters: "I asked [Rice] precise precocious and helium said 'I tin bash it for the squad but I'm successful unspeakable pain’.

"When Declan tells you that he's successful unspeakable pain, past you cognize that helium cannot instrumentality it anymore. He was grateful that we took him off.

"He conscionable said, aft the game, [his wounded is] not an issue. He volition recover. So there's nary injury. He was conscionable successful pain. So I anticipation he's right. He said ‘it's capable time’. It's much nervus pain."

Wednesday's lucifer was Rice's 65th of the season, and helium has reportedly been dealing with little backmost symptom for overmuch of the campaign.

How important is Declan Rice to Thomas Tuchel astatine the World Cup?

There are fewer midfielders successful satellite shot arsenic athletically talented arsenic Rice, and his quality to retrieve defensively volition beryllium needed if England are to beforehand acold this summer.

The Arsenal prima is besides a deadly set-piece threat, and that could beryllium a immense vantage for the Three Lions successful choky knockout games, particularly arsenic Tuchel's squad should person a a wide carnal vantage during corners and escaped kicks.

While Rice is not an adept passer, it would beryllium unfair to expect him to instrumentality up the work for progression portion besides tasking him with covering specified ample distances without the ball.

If England are to extremity their 60-year drought and bring the World Cup backmost home, they volition request Rice to get backmost to his champion arsenic soon arsenic possible.

Mexico vs. England: Can England beforehand to World Cup quarter-finals?

England volition beryllium seen arsenic favourites against Mexico, who person failed to beforehand past the circular of 16 successful immoderate of their past 8 World Cups.

However, backed by a fervent location assemblage astatine the Azteca successful Mexico City, the tourney co-hosts volition judge that person the tools indispensable to wounded a susceptible England team.

Tuchel's broadside indispensable beryllium acceptable for a carnal battle, but if they neglect to woody with the ambiance and the climate, past the Three Lions look the existent imaginable of elimination.