Declan Rice has brushed aside concerns over his physical condition, insisting he is fit, sharp, and eager to start England's second FIFA World Cup 2026 group match against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.

The Arsenal midfielder acknowledged that the sheer volume of football this season has been extraordinary. His appearance in England's opening Group fixture against Croatia was his 63rd game of the campaign — a figure Rice himself described as "obscene."

Back issue and a hectic schedule

Rice was withdrawn from the Croatia fixture after 72 minutes, and he has since confirmed he has been managing a lower back problem since Christmas. The issue has raised questions about his availability and mobility heading into the Ghana encounter, particularly given the strain such a schedule places on hamstrings and surrounding muscles.

His Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka is also navigating his own fitness concerns, dealing with a lingering Achilles problem throughout the tournament — a stark reminder of the physical toll the modern football calendar takes on top players.

Despite all of this, Rice is adamant his body is holding up. Speaking to ITV, Rice said: "I'm ready, I'm fit, raring to go. I think it was a smart decision to come off. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time."

The mindset of a competitor

Rice was candid about the relentless nature of elite football but refused to treat the workload as an excuse. "You get on with it," he said. "Obviously, it's an obscene amount of games. The schedule is crazy but what can we do about it? You can't sit and complain."

He drew on memories of Arsenal's Premier League title triumph as motivation to keep pushing through the physical demands. "You know you'd play as many games as possible to have that feeling again," Rice added. "And knowing there's a World Cup at the end of it as well — you know you'd put your body on the line to be here always and to play."

Rice also compared the fluctuating form of a footballer to that of individual sports athletes. "You're a bit like a tennis player or a golfer sometimes. Sometimes you have your game, sometimes you don't. You're constantly trying to find your best levels," he said, adding that he has managed to sustain those levels across much of the season and is determined to carry that form into the World Cup.

A player who lives to compete

Rice, who says he has played an "insane" number of matches for his age, thrives on rhythm and continuity. "I love being durable. I love having that rhythm of playing three games a week at club," he said. "I wouldn't like playing once a week — I like to keep the momentum going, and I've always been like that throughout my career."

England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, with Rice expected to be in the starting line-up despite the fitness questions surrounding him.