Gary Neville has tipped Reece James to replace Declan Rice in midfield for England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina if the Arsenal star is not deemed fit enough to start. The Three Lions face the defending champions on Wednesday night, with Spain awaiting the winner in Sunday’s final after their victory over France.
Rice’s fitness concerns
Rice has been managing a hamstring and lower back issue since the turn of the year, which he has carried into the World Cup. The problem caused him to miss the group-stage match against Ghana and left him playing through 'terrible pain' during the last-32 clash with DR Congo, before he played the full 90 minutes against Mexico. In the quarter-final against Norway, Rice was substituted at half-time, and it later emerged that the 27-year-old had spent three days in bed with a virus.
The former West Ham United star trained with the England squad on Tuesday, and there is growing optimism that he will be available for the Argentina match. However, with Kobbie Mainoo yet to feature at this World Cup, manager Thomas Tuchel turned to James to restore balance in midfield against Norway.
James’ midfield role
James, the Chelsea captain, has recovered from a hamstring injury of his own that ruled him out of three games. He has occasionally played in midfield for his club last season, and both Roy Keane and Neville believe Tuchel will turn to him again if there are any doubts over Rice’s fitness.
Speaking to ITV, Keane said: 'It’s the semi-final of a World Cup. He did have a virus but surely Rice will turn up and put an effort in, I’d be very surprised if he said he can’t make it. This is where you need your best players available. But what they have done, the squad has come together so whoever does come in will do a good job. We saw Reece James come in and he was brilliant in midfield, he was brilliant at right-back so there are certainly options.'
Neville went further, naming James as the man who should start if Rice is not included. 'It would be Reece James, I think he will go with Reece James in there if Declan Rice wasn’t available,' Neville said.
England’s World Cup run
England have reached the semi-finals after a dramatic run, and the match against Argentina is expected to be a tough test. Spain defeated France to book their place in the final, and the winner of England-Argentina will face them on Sunday.
