Jamie Carragher warned England manager Thomas Tuchel that dropping midfield lynchpin Declan Rice against Ghana would be unwise despite the player's lingering hamstring and lower‑back discomfort. Rice, subbed in the 72nd minute of the 2‑1 win over Croatia in Dallas, described the pain as “neural” and has been playing through it since Christmas. Carragher stresses the Three Lions cannot afford to rest him.

Carragher urged Tuchel to keep Bukayo Saka on the bench until fully recovered from an Achilles issue, saying limited minutes in the opener could hurt his rhythm. He questioned starting Noni Madueke on the right and warned extended bench time may make it harder for Saka to displace him. In defence, Carragher backed Marc Guehi with John Stones, doubting Stones’ sharpness after a sparse season.

Despite England’s spirited second‑half surge against Croatia, Carragher cautioned against over‑optimism, reminding fans that the group stage remains unpredictable. He praised the team’s resilience but highlighted defensive lapses and the need for full‑match fitness ahead of knockout rounds. With Rice’s availability secured and the back line still under scrutiny, England must firmly balance ambition with caution.