Rice is set to lead from the front for England against Mexico, despite battling on through pain and injury. The Arsenal midfielder's willingness to put his country first has earned him a reputation as one of the team's unsung heroes – and it looks like he'll be starting against El Tricolor in the World Cup last-16 showdown.
Manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that Rice was barely holding on after being substituted in injury time against DR Congo, telling him: "You're not okay, are you?" The England star's response? A resolute "I can do it for the team but I'm in terrible pain" – a testament to his unshakeable commitment to the Three Lions.
But while Rice's return will be music to Gareth Southgate's ears, there are still alarm bells ringing over Reece James' fitness. The Chelsea right-back has missed England's last two matches with a hamstring injury and is yet to return to full training ahead of the Mexico game – a worrying omen for the Three Lions' defensive solidity.
Jarell Quansah's ankle issue may have been minor, but it's still a concern for Southgate. The back-up right-back was forced to miss the DR Congo win and is now racing against time to get fit for the Mexico showdown. If both James and Quansah are ruled out, the England manager will be facing a defensive dilemma – one that could make or break their chances in the knockout stage.
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter with Mexico on Sunday at 18:00 local time (01:00 BST on Monday). The weather forecast may yet force a tweak to the kick-off time, but one thing's for sure: the tension will be palpable as England look to take down their Mexican opponents and seal their place in the quarter-finals.