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World Cup: Tuchel confirms Rice fit for Argentina semi-final clash
England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed midfielder Declan Rice is fit to start Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup semi-final against defending champions Argentina after recovering from illness.
Rice was substituted at half-time during England’s quarter-final victory over Norway, raising concerns over his availability for the last-four clash in Atlanta.
Providing an update during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Tuchel said the Arsenal midfielder had recovered and was ready to feature.
He said: “Everyone is fit to start and everyone was in training except for Jarell (Quansah) who is suspended and Jordan Henderson.”
Tuchel added: “Rice is ready to start and as well recovered as possible.”
Henderson will miss the encounter after suffering a broken arm in a freak accident following England’s Round of 16 victory over co-hosts Mexico.
Looking ahead to the meeting with Argentina, Tuchel described the fixture as one of international football’s greatest rivalries.
He said: “It is a big rivalry, two big football nations, everyone who loves football and follows the World Cup knows about this and about what it brings.”
The England boss added: “We expect an intense and emotional match, with a lot of momentum swings.”
Despite the history between the two nations, including Argentina’s famous 1986 World Cup victory and their penalty shootout success in 1998, Tuchel insisted his players were focused only on the present.
He said: “We don’t use it as a fuel.”
The German continued: “We know why we are here, we know what we want, we were never shy of expecting that from ourselves, and of saying it or of dreaming it.”
He concluded: “We are in the semi-finals, and we arrive very hungry.
“We want to have the next win.
“We respect our opponent but we don’t dip into historic events and we don’t make it bigger than it is.”
England reached the semi-finals after defeating Norway, while Argentina advanced by overcoming Switzerland as they continue their bid to retain the World Cup title.
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