England midfielder Declan Rice says he had been dealing with hamstring nerve pain ahead of his early substitution during England’s World Cup match against Croatia. Both reports describe how Rice left the field earlier than planned, and later attributed the decision to ongoing discomfort rather than an acute injury sustained in the game. Times of India adds that Rice had been managing the issue since Christmas, characterizing it as pain affecting the hamstring area and describing the substitution as precautionary. The Athletic (New York Times) similarly reports that Rice referred to the problem as “neural pain” in his hamstring, explaining that the discomfort influenced his involvement in the match.
Rice also emphasizes his continued availability for England’s next fixture, according to Times of India, and notes the physical toll of modern football’s tightly scheduled calendar. Both sources frame his comments as clarifying the reason behind the substitution and offering context on how the condition is managed rather than presenting it as a sudden event. The details focus on the type of pain and timing leading up to the Croatia game.
