Declan Rice fit to start for England v Argentina

Declan Rice fit to start for England v Argentina The Arsenal midfielder trained with England on Tuesday, but questions remain over how long he can last if the tie goes the distance. Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images Declan Rice is expected to start for England against Argentina , although it remains unclear whether the Arsenal midfielder will be able to play the full 90 minutes, let alone extra time if the World Cup semi-final goes the distance. Rice has endured a demanding season, to say the least, and arrived at this tournament stuck together with tape. He has been managing hamstring and back problems throughout the World Cup and, just before England’s quarter-final against Norway , was also struck down by illness . The midfielder started that match but was well below his usual standards before being substituted at half-time. Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images Now, as England prepare to face Argentina for a place in the World Cup final against Spain , reports in England indicate that Rice is fit enough to start. The 27-year-old took part in England’s open training session on Tuesday, a positive sign ahead of one of the biggest matches of the tournament. Rice has played 68 matches since the start of last season, highlighting the workload he has carried for club and country. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images