Declan Rice was left out of England's starting lineup for their final Group L fixture at the 2026 World Cup against Panama at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, raising fresh concerns about his fitness after he was seen limping with strapping on his left leg following the 0-0 draw with Ghana.

The Arsenal midfielder has been one of the first names on Thomas Tuchel's teamsheet since the German took charge nearly two years ago, making his absence from the XI all the more notable.

Tuchel plays down injury fears

Speaking at England's pre-match press conference, Tuchel moved to reassure supporters over Rice's condition. "[Elliot] Anderson and Rice were training today [Thursday]," the manager said. "They had minor issues after the match but they had enough time to recover. So everyone except for Reece James is available, and we will take the decision tomorrow."

Despite that reassurance, Rice did not make the starting XI. Elliot Anderson slots in as the sole holding midfielder, while Jarell Quansah comes in at right-back to cover for the absent James. Jude Bellingham is expected to drop slightly deeper, with Morgan Rogers handed the No. 10 role.

A calculated call by Tuchel

The decision appears to be a precautionary one. With Rice carrying a knock that may not yet be fully healed, Tuchel seems to have weighed the risk of aggravating the injury against the threat Panama actually pose — and opted for caution.

Panama arrive at the MetLife Stadium having lost both of their previous Group L matches, falling to Croatia and Ghana, which means England should carry enough quality to progress without their first-choice midfielder at full strength.