England is facing a nail-biting decision on whether midfielder Declan Rice can start their World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday. There's optimism, but the Arsenal star has been battling an illness that has everyone holding their breath.
Battling Back From the Bug
This is huge, especially after Rice was pulled at half-time during Saturday's quarter-final win over Norway in Miami. Coach Thomas Tuchel straight up admitted Rice had spent three days in bed battling a sickness bug before that 2-1 extra time victory. Think about that: three days! He clearly wasn't 100% heading into a World Cup quarter-final, yet he still started. The illness was picked up in Mexico, where England beat the co-hosts 3-2 in the last 16. It shows the incredible grit this guy has.More Than Just a Sickness Bug
The good news? Rice's condition has improved "markedly" in the last 48 hours, even though he's still not fully recovered. There's growing hope he could be well enough to start in Atlanta. But hold up, there's more. Beyond the bug, Rice has been dealing with a neural problem impacting his lower back and hamstring for several months. This dude is tough as nails, missing only one World Cup game so far, a 2-0 group stage win against Panama because of an injury flare-up. With 78 caps under his belt, Rice is almost certainly going to push to rule himself fit for this World Cup semi-final. But his health is no joke, and England medics are set to make a late call on his availability. Tuchel will wait to see how rapidly his condition improves before making that final, gut-wrenching decision. Every minute of recovery for Rice counts until Wednesday's kick-off against Argentina. This isn't just a game; it's the World Cup semi-final, with a spot in the final on the line.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.