The build-up to global football tournaments is an event in itself with the England men’s football team. Expectations are always sky-high given the quality of players on the pitch, but a week into the competition it all invariably comes crashing down.
With German coach Thomas Tuchel at the helm, the run-up to the 2026 edition was all about finally breaking the sixty-year wait for a World Cup victory. Two weeks after the start of the tournament, the voices of hope in the background have been somewhat muted. Tuchel’s men have been forced to dig deeper than they expected in the preliminary rounds of the World Cup. A slew of injury-related issues have only made the road to the top more difficult.
To make matters worse, the physical problems seem to specifically affect players who live in a corner of the field. Tino Livramento for the tournament, Reece James, Jarell Quansah – those are three players who have been deployed as right backs by the coach. That leaves Djed Spence, who played the group stage match against Ghana on the left flank, the only easy option to occupy that slot.
With no option to replace these players mid-tournament with a fresher crop (à la Trent Alexander-Arnold), how will England tackle this issue? The answer lies in the nervy 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32. With England needing two goals to overturn the deficit against the Leopards, the think tank opted to switch at the back to bring more attack-minded players onto the pitch. That meant Declan Rice was moved to right-back to play behind Buyako Saka.
England responded with two goals in an eleven-minute period to complete a remarkable comeback win and stay alive in the competition. Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Tuchel mentioned assistant coach Anthony Barry for the unusual idea. «I asked him (Rice) very late and he said, ‘I can do it for the team, but I’m in terrible pain,'» said Tuchel. However, the Arsenal midfielder was not entirely happy with the change. «It was probably the hardest 12 minutes of the game when I played as a right-back,» said Rice. «I have played there two or three times this season, I know the role, it’s probably not my biggest strength, but to do everything for the team and the manager,» he added.
Declan Rice was one of the main ways to create chances for England this tournament. | Photo credit: REUTERS
Declan Rice was one of the main ways to create chances for England this tournament. | Photo credit: REUTERS
The move may not be as much of a Hail Mary decision as it first seems. Rice was one of the main ways to create chances for England this tournament. He receives the second most crosses (31) in the current tournament and has the fourth most chances created (12). Even when playing his traditional role in midfield, Rice often drifts to the right to deliver early crosses towards Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
Exploiting Rice’s versatility could create an additional option for England in midfield. Against teams defending in a low block, England could play Morgan Rogers or Eberechi Eze to find the killer pass to unlock the defense. Alternatively, Tuchel could also opt to play Kobbie Mainoo or Jordan Henderson to provide control in games with end-to-end transitions.
However, the decision is not that simple. Rice has been bogged down by recurring neural pain in his lower back and hamstring. He will not be able to run up and down the wings as expected of a traditional full-back. The former West Ham star will have to be deployed as an inverted wing-back with the right winger maintaining the width in front of him.
However, restricting Rice’s movement opens up another attacking option for the Three Lions. The team can create overload on the left flank, with Nico O’Reilly regularly bombing forward. The Manchester City youngster has enjoyed a breakthrough in the Premier League this season and has often played a similar role for Pep Guardiola. He arrived late in the box and created a goal threat with his heading skills.
Taking your best midfielder out of position midway through a major tournament may be too pragmatic a decision for the team. Tuchel also confirmed to ITV that Rice will continue to play in midfield when England take on Mexico in the round of 16 on Sunday. However, the head coach reiterated that this tactic could be something that can be used if England need to be extra attacking towards the end of matches.
England will have to fulfill their duties in a packed Azteca Stadium against the co-hosts. The influence of external climate factors only makes the task more difficult. An inspiring tactical change could be the difference between further progress in the tournament and an early exit.
Published on July 5, 2026
