Declan Rice has been managing neural hamstring pain at the World Cup: What is it?

Declan Rice has started every match at the last three major tournaments for England. He has become as indispensable to his country as he has to Arsenal.

But his early removal against Croatia on Wednesday and subsequent comments about a hamstring issue that he has been managing raised questions about the fitness of one of England’s most important players — and at a crucial time.

Rice, 27, was replaced after 72 minutes with England leading 3-2 in their opening World Cup group game, which they won 4-2.

England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel described the decision as precautionary after Rice felt discomfort around his upper hamstring and lower back. But as former England defender and pundit Gary Neville summarised: “You don’t rest Declan Rice.”

Rice later revealed he has been managing “neural pain” during the second half of the season, including through Arsenal’s Premier League title win and run to the Champions League final.

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So what is neural pain, can he continue to play through it and might it affect his performance?

What did Rice say?

“I’m ready and fit, raring to go,” Rice told ITV Sport, in an interview broadcast on Saturday. “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.

“Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff, but it was a smart decision.”

Rice said the closing stages of matches are when the physical cost can become greatest and explained why Tuchel made the decision to take him off in Dallas. Rice insisted, however, that he is fit to face Ghana on Tuesday.

“You play a 70-minute match, but that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it,” he said.

“It’s an obscene amount of games, the schedule was crazy, but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain.”

Declan Rice played a significant role in Arsenal’s Premier League title win (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

What is neural hamstring pain?

Neural pain differs from a conventional hamstring strain, which involves damage to the muscle or tendon.

It involves the sciatic nerve, which travels from the lower back, through the pelvis and down the back of the leg. Irritation along that pathway can cause pain around the hamstring even when the muscle has not torn.

James Vickers, a consultant physiotherapist at Marylebone Health Group, compared the nerve to “a wire running through the body”.

“What it sounds like Rice may have is what we call neurogenic pain, where the nerve is getting snagged or irritated outside the spinal column,” Vickers said.

Tight muscles, imbalances or scar tissue can prevent the nerve moving freely, causing the hamstring to tighten protectively and creating a cycle of tension and pain.

“There’s not anything actually breaking,” Vickers said. “It is more irritation. It needs a settling-down period.”

How does neural hamstring pain impact performance?

Daniel Booth, founder of performance consultancy MyoLab and a former head of performance at Watford, says neural problems can be unpredictable.

“They can feel almost completely settled one day and flare with no obvious trigger the next,” Booth said. “Heat, fatigue, sustained postures or a change in training load can wind them back up.”

The problem could affect Rice’s posterior chain — the glutes, hamstrings and calves that generate force during pressing, sprinting and physical duels — as the body protects the irritated nerve involuntarily.

“The player isn’t making a conscious decision to hold back — the nervous system makes it for them,” Booth said.

That can leave a player “operating slightly below their actual ceiling”, with small reductions in stride length, acceleration or power through the hip.

Booth said fatigue can accelerate the drop-off during the final 20 to 30 minutes, the period in which Rice was removed against Croatia.

“Every unnecessary minute avoided in the group stage is minutes in the bank for a quarter-final or semi-final when you simply can’t take him off,” he said.

How much has Declan Rice played during the 2025-26 campaign?

The Croatia match was Rice’s 63rd appearance of the season — 55 for Arsenal and eight for England.

He has played 360 matches for club and country since the beginning of 2020-21, reflecting six seasons with few extended breaks.

If England reach the final and Rice features in every game, he could finish the season with 70 appearances.

How important is Rice for England?

There is no like-for-like replacement; he shields the centre-backs, carries possession through pressure and delivers set pieces, including the corner for England’s second goal against Croatia.

His substitution prompted an immediate reshuffle. Morgan Rogers came on at No 10, with Jude Bellingham dropping alongside Elliot Anderson. Eight minutes later, Djed Spence replaced Bellingham and Reece James moved into midfield from right-back.

Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson are Tuchel’s other midfield options available.

Any attempt to replace Rice requires Tuchel to weaken or reorganise another part of the team. With the midfielder managing the pain throughout a demanding domestic season, England will hope he can continue to do so on the world stage.