England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has sparked significant injury concerns after being spotted limping through the mixed zone following the 0-0 draw with Ghana.
The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes of the tightly contested Group L encounter at Boston Stadium before showing visible signs of physical distress at full-time.
David Ornstein of The Athletic was among those to flag the situation, reporting that Rice walked through the media mixed zone with his left calf heavily strapped and a noticeable limp.
The exact severity of the injury remains entirely unclear at this stage, leaving England’s medical staff to assess the damage in the hours following the match.
Rice is one of the most important players in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, functioning as the engine and defensive anchor at the base of England’s midfield throughout this tournament.
His performances have been central to England’s World Cup campaign, including their opening victory over Croatia in the group stage earlier this month.
The timing of this injury scare could not be worse for England, given the short turnaround before their next fixture this coming Saturday against Panama in New Jersey.
That match represents England’s final Group L game and a decisive contest to confirm their place in the World Cup knockout rounds after the goalless stalemate against Ghana.
Tuchel will be desperately hoping the injury is nothing more than a minor impact knock, rather than a muscle strain that could sideline Rice for an extended period.
Losing Rice’s positional awareness, defensive output, and midfield control would represent a devastating blow to England’s tactical structure and overall cohesion going forward.
England’s frustration was compounded by their inability to break down a well-organised Ghana side across 90 minutes, meaning the pressure on Saturday’s match against Panama is now considerable.
The Three Lions will be monitoring Rice’s condition closely over the coming days, with the Panama clash representing a must-not-lose occasion for this England squad at the 2026 World Cup.
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