Thomas Tuchel panic as England key player misses international training with illness ahead of World Cup opener
*Thomas Tuchel ‘Panic’ As England Key Player Misses International Training With Illness Ahead Of World Cup Opener*
Thomas Tuchel was forced to cut short England’s training session on Monday after a key player was sent home with illness, sparking concern just 10 days before the World Cup opener against Tunisia on June 15.
The player is *Declan Rice*. England’s midfield anchor missed St George’s Park training completely and was seen leaving the complex with the team doctor. The FA confirmed he’s “undergoing assessment” but gave no timeline.
Tuchel didn’t hide his frustration. “It’s not panic, but it’s not ideal. Declan is Declan. He’s our balance, our leader on the pitch. To lose him now, even for a few days, throws everything off,” the England boss said. Cameras picked up Tuchel pacing the touchline and stopping drills twice to speak with assistant Anthony Barry.
*Why it matters*
Rice has started 47 of England’s last 50 games. He’s the player Tuchel builds the midfield around, sitting in front of the back four and freeing Jude Bellingham to push forward. Without him, England looked disjointed in the second half of training. Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo rotated in, but the tempo and defensive
The illness is reported to be a viral bug that’s gone through the squad. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both trained separately as a precaution, but Rice is the only one ruled out for now. Medical staff are testing the whole group daily.
*Tuchel’s options if Rice is out*
Plan B would be Gallagher alongside Bellingham in a double pivot, with Trent Alexander-Arnold dropping deeper in possession. Mainoo is another option, but he’s only just returned from a minor ankle issue. Jordan Henderson was left out of the squad, so Tuchel can’t call on experience.
The bigger fear is timing. England face Tunisia on June 15 in Arlington, then Netherlands on June 20 in Houston. Rice missing both would force Tuchel to rebuild his midfield on the fly in a tournament.
*What happens next*
Rice will be reassessed daily. The FA says it’s “not serious” but is taking no risks with a tournament starting next week. Tuchel is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday and will give a clearer update then.
For England fans, it’s a familiar pre-tournament scare. For Tuchel, it’s his first real test. He’s only been in charge since January and has barely had a full-strength squad. Losing Rice now would be the worst-case start.
Leeds United star misses international training with illness ahead of World Cup opener
A Leeds United star has missed international training ahead of his country’s World Cup opener.
Leeds United star Gabi Gudmundsson has missed a Sweden training session ahead of his country’s World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Gudmundsson joined Leeds for £10m from Lille last summer and his stellar displays were rewarded with a place in Graham Potter’s Sweden for this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
A hamstring injury brought an early end to Gudmundsson’s Premier League season but the defender was still named in Potter’s World Cup squad and the Whites star returned from his injury to play 64 minutes of last week’s final pre-World Cup friendly against Greece.
Sweden will begin their World Cup campaign with their Group F opener on Monday in the early hours of the morning, ahead of which the team trained on Tuesday but Gudmundsson was missing due to being unwell.
The Sweden Herald reported: “With five days until the World Cup opener, Gabriel Gudmundsson was unable to train with the Sweden national team.
“He remains at the hotel with some mild symptoms of illness,” the national team’s press officer, Petra Thorén, says to media on site ahead of training in Dallas.
“The other 25 players in Sweden’s World Cup squad planned to participate in the training session. Sweden’s opening match against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, is early Monday morning, Swedish time.”
