Sports14 July, 20263 min read
Thomas Tuchel Names Declan Rice Fit As England Face Argentina With Henderson And Quansah Out
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Declan Rice is fit for England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina. Jordan Henderson unavailable due to broken arm for semi-final.
Semi-final lineup uncertainty
England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad heads into the World Cup semi-final against Argentina with only Jordan Henderson and Jarell Quansah unavailable, with Henderson still recovering from a broken wrist and Quansah suspended after a red card against Mexico. Sky Sports News said Declan Rice is fit and available to start, after Tuchel’s illness, injury and fatigue problems across the squad eased since the win over Norway three days ago, and that Rice had been confined to his bed for three days in the lead-up to the quarter-final. The London Evening Standard reported that all England players took part in the Three Lions’ training session in Kansas City on Tuesday except Henderson, and that Tuchel took Rice off at half-time in the quarter-final win over Norway due to a sickness bug.
The BBC added that Tuchel is yet to field the same starting back four in consecutive games, but that Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly started the 2-1 win over Norway and Tuchel was impressed with how the quartet operated. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium, with the BBC framing Henderson & Quansah as the only England absentees for the semi-final against Argentina.
Rice’s recovery and Tuchel’s call
Sky Sports News described how Rice’s stomach problem after the last 16 game in Mexico City meant the FA doctors decided he was only able to play 45 minutes in Miami, and it said the Arsenal midfielder looked drained and drawn as he walked past journalists after the extra-time victory over Norway.
Tuchel explained the decision to take Rice off, saying: "We knew that Declan was struggling. He gave a green light to continue maybe until the next water break," before adding that he took Rice off because of the risk of getting into trouble with substitutions later.
The BBC reported that Rice’s preparation for the game against Norway was severely disrupted by illness, but said there was optimism his condition had improved enough for him to take his place in the team on Wednesday, and that Rice trained fully on Tuesday.
The London Evening Standard said Rice has since shaken off illness and fatigue and that there is hope the influential midfielder will be back in the starting line-up against Argentina, while also noting that Henderson is unavailable for the remainder of the tournament due to his broken wrist.
With Tuchel finalising his starting XI, the BBC said it leaves him options as he considers keeping the same defence that began the quarter-final against Norway, with Konsa, Stones, Guehi and O'Reilly all starting in the 2-1 win.
Revenge narrative and match stakes
A preview from FotMob framed the semi-final as England out for revenge against Argentina 40 years on from the Hand of God, with the second semi-final at the 2026 FIFA World Cup pitting England against defending champions Argentina. FotMob said England’s only World Cup title came on home soil exactly 60 years ago, and it recalled that England emerged 1-0 winners in the quarter-final thanks to Geoff Hurst’s late strike, while noting that the match is the first time they meet this deep into the tournament. The FotMob preview also set the tactical stakes by pointing to Argentina’s lack of clean sheets in each of their last four games and by saying they have continued reliance on one Lionel Messi, whose scoring streak came to an end against Switzerland but who extended his men’s World Cup record tally to 10 with an assist.
Sky Sports News added that England are “just one win away from their first World Cup final in 60 years,” and it said Tuchel has just one training session left in Kansas City later today to get the tactics and team selection right to face Lionel Messi and Argentina. With the semi-final scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Atlanta Stadium, Goal’s broadcast guide said the match will be shown on beIN Sports Qatar and that it can be watched online via the TOD app.