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Rice confident England can overcome Ghana’s challenge at World Cup
23rd June, 2026 05:15 PM
England midfielder Declan Rice has expressed confidence that the Three Lions are capable of defeating any team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they gear up for a crucial Group L clash against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
England made a strong start to their tournament journey with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. Although there were concerns about their defensive display, Rice believes the team’s outstanding second-half performance provided a clear blueprint for the matches ahead.
“We know as players the level. We know what’s required,” Rice said during Monday’s press conference, where he appeared alongside head coach Thomas Tuchel.
“That second-half performance against Croatia was probably the benchmark for us in terms of having to start the game at that level, at that tempo.
“We believe that if we can do that from the opening minute, with players that we also have to come on and finish the game, we can beat any opponent in the world. We want to be confident in our abilities and what we can do on the pitch.”
Fatigue concerns
The Arsenal star, who recently helped the club secure its first league championship in more than two decades, dismissed concerns about fatigue after being substituted in the latter stages of the Croatia match.
“My body has been conditioned and built for these moments, for playing long seasons,” he explained. “I’d probably say this season has been more mentally tougher than physically, just because the emotions of a football player are crazy.”
Rice added that he currently feels both mentally and physically prepared for the demands of the competition.
“I think at this moment in time, I’m in a mentally very good space, and physically I feel really good as well. So I want to keep taking this into the end of the tournament,” he said.
Turning his attention to Ghana, the midfielder predicted a challenging encounter against a side known for its athleticism and speed.
“I’ve played against a lot of the Ghana team and from the clips I know what they’re going to bring,” he said. “They’re going to bring strength, pace. They’re going to want to catch us out on the counter-attack. So we need to be ready for everything.
“But also, having played against a lot of those players, I already know what’s going to be coming tomorrow.”
Tuchel on style of play
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that his team would need to adjust to a different style of play compared to what they faced against Croatia.
“They play very direct when they’re on the ball. They’re not shy to use long balls. They bring four or five players into the attack,” he said. “So it’s a different approach than the last match. But that’s the beauty of it – we play a World Cup, we play different cultures, different national teams and different approaches to the match.
“It’s on us to adapt and to bring our strengths and be respectful enough to adapt to the strengths of our opponent and make it a top performance from us. Because that’s what we need if we want to win.”
Tuchel also provided an encouraging update regarding winger Bukayo Saka, who has been recovering from an Achilles problem. Although Saka was not included in the starting lineup against Croatia, he could feature against Ghana.
“Bukayo is getting better and better, he’s more and more free in his movements, he feels no more pain,” Tuchel said. “He was able to do both our training sessions the last two days on the highest level, so he’s ready to go – without telling you if he will start or come from the bench.”
