England coach says Rice played while ill in Norway win

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed midfielder Declan Rice played through significant illness during the team's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over Norway in Miami on Saturday, July 11, 2026, a factor in his halftime substitution. The win, secured by a Jude Bellingham brace in regulation and extra time, advances England to a semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15.

Rice started the match despite having spent most of the three preceding days bedridden with a sickness bug, an issue compounded by a pre-existing neural problem affecting his hamstring and lower back. Though he participated in training on the eve of the match, his condition limited his effectiveness in the intense Miami heat. Tuchel explained the decision to replace Rice and winger Noni Madueke at halftime, with Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka entering the game, was tactical and precautionary.

"I made the decision when we were 1-0 down and didn't want to go back on the decision because of the equaliser," Tuchel said, referencing Bellingham's goal just before the break that leveled the score after Andreas Schjelderup's opener for Norway. The manager stated he wanted to send a signal for a more...