Declan Rice bedridden for three days before Norway match

England midfielder Declan Rice spent most of three days in bed with a sickness bug before the World Cup quarter-final against Norway, manager Thomas Tuchel revealed. The Arsenal star still managed to start the match, though he was pulled at halftime during England’s 2-1 victory on July 11 in Miami.

What happened on the pitch

Rice, who serves as England’s vice-captain, missed multiple training sessions in the lead-up to one of the most consequential matches of the tournament cycle. The sickness bug compounded existing issues with his hamstring and lower back, making his availability a genuine question mark heading into kickoff.

Tuchel ultimately decided to start Rice despite the illness. That gamble lasted exactly 45 minutes before the manager pulled him at the break.

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