Context:

England will decide at the last moment whether Declan Rice can start the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, buoyed by signs of improvement after a sickness bug that kept him in bed for days. Despite not being fully recovered, the Arsenal midfielder is seen as essential given the magnitude of the tie, though medics will assess his progress before a final call. He arrives with a concurrent neural issue affecting his lower back and hamstring, having started all but one World Cup game so far. The decision shapes England’s midfield approach with the broader goal of maintaining momentum through the knockout stage.

Dive Deeper:

• Rice contracted a sickness bug that worsened in the days leading up to England's quarter-final against Norway, necessitating a half-time substitution in a 2-1 win after extra time in Miami.

• Coach Thomas Tuchel revealed Rice had spent three days in bed before the match, underscoring the severity of the illness as England advance in the tournament.

• The illness is reported to have originated in Mexico, where England beat the co-hosts 3-2 in the last-16, and Rice has since shown relative improvement over the past 48 hours.

• There is growing optimism Rice will be fit to start in Atlanta, but the final selection hinges on how quickly his condition progresses and medical assessments on game day.

• In addition to the illness, Rice has carried a neural problem impacting his lower back and hamstring for several months, complicating the decision for continued use in crucial matches.

• With 78 caps, Rice has started all but one World Cup game so far, missing the group-stage win over Panama due to an injury flare-up, highlighting his importance to England’s midfield balance.