England hope Declan Rice returns as Tuchel readies for Messi clash

Declan Rice trained on the eve of England’s World Cup semi‑final against Argentina, raising optimism he could start after a bout of illness. The session took place as Thomas Tuchel’s men prepared for the crucial Wednesday match in Atlanta, where they will face Lionel Messi and his Argentina side.

England earned their semi‑final berth with a narrow 2‑1 extra‑time victory over Norway in Miami, where Rice was withdrawn at half‑time after an unusually ineffective performance. The win kept England’s tournament hopes alive despite the midfielder’s early exit.

After the quarter‑final, Tuchel revealed Rice had been bedbound for three days following the last‑16 trip to Mexico, missing training until the recent session. The Arsenal star has also been coping with nagging hamstring pain since Christmas, yet he trained with teammates at the Kansas City base before flying to Georgia on Tuesday.

Tuchel will address Rice’s availability at the pre‑match press conference at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, and his ability to take part in the session is seen as a positive sign. Fans and pundits will watch the coach’s update closely.

Fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson was the only member of the 26‑man squad not to train, having undergone arm surgery after a nasty fall in Mexico. Versatile defender Jarell Quansah participated in training but will miss Wednesday’s semi‑final after serving a two‑match ban for a red card received at the Estadio Azteca. Right‑back Reece James is pushing to start, having returned from a three‑game hamstring absence as a second‑half substitute against Norway.

The encounter on Wednesday is billed as a decisive step toward a World Cup final appearance, with England aiming to secure a place in Sunday’s MetLife Stadium showpiece. The semi‑final is scheduled for Wednesday.