Rice in bed for nearly three days before Norway game
Bellingham scores extra-time winner as England reach semi-finals
England boss Thomas Tuchel says Declan Rice spent most of the three days before their World Cup quarter-final win against Norway in bed with sickness.
Rice started the 2-1 victory against Norway but looked like he was struggling in the stifling heat of the Miami Stadium, before being replaced at the start of the second half by Arsenal team-mate Eberechi Eze.
England went 1-0 down when Andreas Schjelderup scored for Norway, but Jude Bellingham equalised just before half-time and also grabbed the winner for the Three Lions during extra time.
The win set up a semi-final against Argentina, who beat Switzerland, that will kick off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday, 15 July and be shown live across the BBC.
"We had some players struggling in the heat," said Tuchel. "Ezri Konsa was one of them with cramps and the hamstrings.
"Declan, we made a decision in half-time to become more offensive, to have a bit of an offensive shift.
"I made the decision when we were 1-0 down and didn't want to go back on the decision because of the equaliser."
Rice was a doubt for the Norway game as he had already been suffering with a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back, and it was exacerbated by illness.
He trained on the eve of the quarter-final but made way at the break.
Tuchel said: "We had to take Elliot [Anderson] or Declan out [and] knowing that Declan struggled after the last three days where he was most of the time in bed, I knew he cannot survive 90 minutes.
"There was a possibility that it goes 120 [minutes], so I didn't want to waste another change, so the decision was to take Declan out earlier than he needed to go out, just to save us another change later down the match."
Rice, who helped Arsenal win last season's Premier League title, has started five of England's six matches at the 2026 World Cup, with the group game against Panama being the only one he has missed.
Tuchel angry at 'lucky' England - but Bellingham defends players
'Animals', Hand of God and Beckham - Argentina and England's World Cup rivalry
'We should all be excited' - Messi set for first England meeting
'Not happy with the performance' - so why do England keep winning?
When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport
Related Stories
World
Manchester United weigh up stunning move for Real Betis and ex-Tottenham forward Troy Parrott
1 week ago
World
Israeli police arrest 10 following weekend attacks by settlers on journalist and diplomats
1 week ago
World
Trump says suspension of Russia sanctions is to keep peace negotiations going
1 week ago
World
Ukrainian drones strike St. Petersburg oil facilities | NHK WORLD
1 week ago
World
Victoria Falls stadium in Zimbabwe nears completion for CWC27
1 week ago
World
‘The world will be amazed:’ Iran’s commanders prepare for further war
1 week ago
World
Festival opens with musket salute in Sakai, Osaka
1 week ago
World
Trump's new pitch for Republican candidates — they're really good
1 week ago