England are set to delay their decision on whether Declan Rice is fit enough to start Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina, with medical staff monitoring his condition closely before giving the all-clear.

Rice fell ill ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against Norway in Miami — a match England won 2-1 after extra time — and was withdrawn at half-time. Head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed the Arsenal midfielder had spent three days in bed before the game even began.

A sickness bug traced to Mexico

Rice is understood to have picked up the illness during England's round-of-16 trip to Mexico, where they defeated the co-hosts 3-2. He has not yet made a full recovery, though his condition has reportedly improved over the past 48 hours.

Despite that progress, England's medical team are not yet prepared to confirm his availability and will continue evaluating him in the lead-up to kick-off. Tuchel, for his part, is waiting to see how Rice responds before committing to a decision on selection.

An almost certain starter — but not guaranteed

Given the scale of the occasion — a World Cup semi-final against Argentina — Rice is considered almost certain to declare himself fit and available. However, the severity of the illness means nothing is being taken for granted, and a late call remains the most likely outcome.

Adding to the complexity, Rice has also been managing a neural problem affecting his lower back and hamstring for several months. The issue has been present throughout England's campaign and is separate from the recent sickness.

The midfielder, who has earned 78 caps for England, has featured in all but one of their World Cup fixtures. He missed the 2-0 group-stage victory over Panama due to an injury flare-up, but returned to the starting line-up and has played a central role ever since.