Rice revealed a painful secret last Wednesday - he'd been playing through agony since Christmas, nursing a debilitating hamstring nerve issue that threatened to derail England's World Cup bid. The Arsenal midfielder's admission came after being substituted in the 72nd minute against Croatia, with the 4-2 victory secured. But Rice insisted it was no surprise, citing an "obscene" schedule that had left him and his teammates pushing their bodies to the limit.
It's not just a niggle, this is nerve pain in the upper hamstring, radiating into the lower back - a constant companion for Rice since the festive period. Yet, he hailed the decision to withdraw as "smart", confident of being fully fit and ready to fire against Ghana on Tuesday. Managing the neural pain has been an ongoing battle, with behind-the-scenes efforts to keep it under control.
Rice played 55 times for Arsenal this season, helping them win the Premier League and reach the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals. Throw in eight appearances for England, and you get a sense of just how physically draining it's been. Still, he acknowledged that sometimes you have to put up with pain to experience the ultimate high - winning the World Cup.
England's squad is acclimatising to the heat and humidity of North America in Florida right now, ahead of the World Cup. And Rice says manager Thomas Tuchel has assured the players they're conditioned to handle whatever conditions come their way. No pressure then!
Bukayo Saka's also struggling with an Achilles problem, but Rice remains confident that his teammate will make a telling impact on the tournament once fit. Saka came off the bench against Croatia and played a part in England's fourth goal, but for now, he's working individually to get back to full fitness - and Noni Madueke looks set to continue on the right wing against Ghana.