Thomas Tuchel told to consider dropping Declan Rice for World Cup quarter-final

Thomas Tuchel might want to think about leaving Declan Rice out of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

That’s the view of England legend Stuart Pearce, who has expressed concerns over the niggle the Three Lions midfielder has been carrying through the World Cup.

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Injury worries?

Rice has played the entirety of Monday’s epic last-16 win over Mexico at the Azteca, having been substituted late on in the 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the round of 32.

But the Arsenal star has been battling a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back since Christmas.

The 27-year-old, an integral member of Tuchel’s midfield, also missed England’s final group game against Panama with a calf problem.

And ex-Three Lions captain Pearce, who has been commentating for talkSPORT throughout the World Cup, wonders whether Rice should be risked in Saturday’s huge last-eight showdown in Miami.

“The only thing that might be a consideration to him [Tuchel] is the injury…a concern that’s been with him [Rice] for a few games,” Pearce told Jeff Stelling and Gabby Agbonlahor on the talkSPORT World Cup Breakfast.

“He’s not 100%, let’s put it that way,” former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor remarked.

“Yeah, exactly, but you wouldn’t think it with his performances,” Pearce continued.

“[But] is that [continuing to play while nursing an issue] going to do him more damage and is he likely to break down? If there is a risk there, I think you’d be foolish as a manager to play him.”

England’s right-back curse continues

However, Pearce has called on Tuchel to name his strongest line-up possible.

On top of his fitness worries, Rice is among the England players who find themselves walking a tightrope heading into the quarters.

He’s one of five who are one booking away from missing a potential semi-final, along with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly.

If Rice does play against Norway, could he be deployed at right-back amid England’s apparent curse in that position?

Reece James has missed the last three games with a hamstring strain, while Djed Spence has struggled in the role and Jarell Quansah, who started there last time out, is serving a one-match ban after being sent off.

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But asked by Stelling whether he thought Tuchel would think about playing Rice as a full-back, Agbonlahor replied: “I don’t think so. I just think you lose that energy in midfield, don’t you?”

Stelling suggested that Kobbie Mainoo could come into the side, but the Manchester United midfielder has yet to feature at this tournament.

“He’s not played a minute of the tournament,” Agbonlahor highlighted.

“I think with [Norway captain Martin] Odegaard, how he dictated the game against Brazil, you need Rice and [Elliot] Anderson to dictate the game in midfielder – you really do.”

Three Lions fans can sleep on Saturday night

After millions stayed up into the early hours of Monday morning to watch England beat Mexico, Saturday’s kick-off falls at the considerably more civilised time of 10pm BST.

The quarter-finals get underway on Thursday night as two-time winners and 2022 runners-up France take on 2022 semi-finalists and African champions Morocco in Boston.