Crunch time is upon England as Declan Rice battles to shake off illness and lead his team into the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The 27-year-old midfield maestro was forced off at half-time in the quarter-final victory over Norway, with Thomas Tuchel's team revealing he'd been struggling for several days beforehand. But according to whispers from the England camp, Rice is on the mend and poised to partner Elliot Anderson in a crucial midfield showdown.
The news will come as a massive boost to the Three Lions, who are already sweating over the fitness of Ezri Konsa. The Aston Villa right-back was replaced against Norway due to cramp, but he's reportedly making good progress and could retain his starting spot. Meanwhile, Reece James is chomping at the bit for a recall after making an instant impact as a second-half substitute last time out, while Bukayo Saka will be eager to build on his impressive cameo from the bench.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has sent a clear message to his teammates ahead of this mouth-watering encounter: focus on the footy, not the history. The Everton stopper insists that England's players are laser-focused on getting the job done against Argentina, rather than letting the intense rivalry get under their skin.
Pickford highlighted the team's disciplined approach throughout the tournament, stating, “We’ve been very respectful within the game – if decisions go our way or if they don’t go our way, we just reset, we go again, and we let the football do the talking.” He knows that maintaining composure will be key to securing victory, especially when facing a star-studded Argentina outfit led by Lionel Messi.
It's set to be a powder keg of passion in Atlanta on Wednesday, with thousands of boisterous fans from both nations descending on the stadium. Pickford acknowledged the enormity of the occasion but urged his teammates not to get carried away with the hype – their sole focus must remain delivering a top-notch performance to reach the World Cup final.