Declan Rice has gone into England’s World Cup campaign carrying more than the usual tournament pressure. The Arsenal midfielder said he has been managing “neural pain” in his hamstring for months, a problem that helped explain his early withdrawal against Croatia.
That discomfort matters because Rice is one of Thomas Tuchel’s most important players and one of England’s most durable. He has started every match at the last three major tournaments, and there is no direct replacement for the way he shields the defence, carries the ball and drives set pieces.
What Rice said about the issue
Rice told ITV Sport that he felt “a little bit of neural pain” in his hamstring and had been managing it since after Christmas with Arsenal. He described the decision to take him off as smart, and said he is ready to face Ghana on Tuesday.
He also pointed to the strain of the calendar, saying, “It’s an obscene amount of games, the schedule was crazy, but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain.”
Rice’s comments followed Tuchel’s decision to remove him after 72 minutes against Croatia, with England leading 3-2 in a match they went on to win 4-2. Tuchel said the change was precautionary after Rice felt discomfort around his upper hamstring and lower back.
What neural hamstring pain means
Neural pain is different from a standard hamstring strain. Rather than a torn muscle or tendon, it involves irritation along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the pelvis and down the back of the leg.
James Vickers, a consultant physiotherapist at Marylebone Health Group, said it can feel like “a wire running through the body.” He said Rice may be dealing with neurogenic pain, where the nerve is irritated outside the spinal column.
Tight muscles, imbalances or scar tissue can stop the nerve moving freely. That can trigger protective tightening in the hamstring and create a cycle of tension and pain without anything actually breaking.
Why it can affect performance
Performance specialist Daniel Booth said neural problems can be unpredictable. He said they can feel settled on one day and flare the next, with heat, fatigue, sustained postures or changes in training load all capable of making them worse.
That kind of issue can affect the posterior chain, including the glutes, hamstrings and calves, because the nervous system can force a player to protect the irritated area. Booth said the player is not choosing to hold back, but can end up operating below their ceiling.
Small drops in stride length, acceleration or power through the hip may follow, especially when fatigue builds in the final 20 to 30 minutes. That was the window in which Rice was removed against Croatia.
How much Rice has played
The Croatia match was Rice’s 63rd appearance of the season, with 55 for Arsenal and eight for England. He has played 360 matches for club and country since the start of 2020-21, a workload that reflects six seasons with few extended breaks.
If England reach the final and Rice plays in every match, he could finish the season with 70 appearances. That scale of usage helps explain why his fitness is being managed carefully on the biggest stage.
Why England need him so badly
Rice’s absence would force England into a difficult reshuffle. He is central to the team’s balance, and his substitution against Croatia immediately changed the shape of the midfield.
Morgan Rogers came on at No 10, Jude Bellingham dropped alongside Elliot Anderson, and then Djed Spence replaced Bellingham with Reece James moving into midfield from right-back. Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson are also among Tuchel’s available midfield options.
With Rice still managing pain from a long season, England will hope that the precaution against Croatia allows him to keep playing when the stakes rise further. As Booth noted, every unnecessary minute saved now could matter later in the tournament.