Declan Rice declared fit to start for England against Argentina

By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer, Atlanta

Thomas Tuchel confirmed midfielder Declan Rice is fit to start England’s key World Cup semi-final against Argentina after illness.

Lionel Messi and Co lie in wait in Atlanta on Wednesday as the sides seek to seal a place in Sunday’s MetLife Stadium showpiece against Spain.

England secured their place in the semi-finals with a narrow 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway in Miami, where the unusually ineffective Rice was withdrawn at half-time.

Tuchel revealed after the quarter-final that the Arsenal star had been bedbound for three days in the build-up to the tie, having fallen unwell after the last-16 trip to Mexico.

Rice has also been dealing with nagging hamstring pain since Christmas, but he trained with his team-mates at their Kansas City base before flying to Georgia on Tuesday.

England boss Tuchel said upon arriving in Atlanta: “Everyone is fit to start. Everyone was in training.

“Except for Jarell (Quansah), who is suspended, and Jordan Henderson (everyone is available).”

Asked if Rice is completely back to normal now, Tuchel said with a smile: “Well, yeah, he’s ready to start and (he is) as good recovered as possible.”

Experienced midfielder Henderson was the only member of the 26-man squad not to train having undergone arm surgery following his nasty fall in Mexico.

Versatile defender Quansah took part but his red card at the Estadio Azteca means he will sit out Wednesday’s semi-final as he completes a two-match ban.

Right-back Reece James is pushing to start having returned from a three-game absence with a hamstring issue as a second-half substitute against Norway.