Tuchel reveals reason behind Declan Rice substitution in England Win

YES I know, this is a West Ham United football blog site but just about every Hammers fan in this country would have tuned in to watch the biggest game of the World Cup so far last night. Without Jarrod Bowen’ s involvement, former Hammers skipper Declan Rice is, sadly, the closest thing to a West Ham squad member and many still have huge affection for the former trophy winning Irons captain.

England manager Tuchel subbed a clearly under par Rice at half time, bringing on Eze in his place. According to football365.com, the German coach used tactical, rather than medical reasons for his justification of the switch: Rice had been ill all week and looked well below his best throughout the first 45:

“Thomas Tuchel admitted that he sacrificed Declan Rice at half-time so England could be more attacking in the second half of their World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

When asked why he took Madueke and Rice off at half-time, Tuchel told talkSPORT: “I wanted to have Bukayo on the field to finish it. I was not happy with Noni’s performance.

“It was just a one-on-one and we wanted to get a bit more offensive. I took the decision when we were 1-0 down. “I didn’t want to take it back just because of the goal. I wanted to send the signal that we become more offensive. So we needed to take one midfielder off.

“We knew that Declan was struggling. He gave a green light to continue maybe until the next water break, but then I thought if we go 120 and I don’t have Elliot on the field, we will get into trouble in substitutions later.

“So we took a hard decision and took Declan off then, which paid off because Elliot could play the full 120, otherwise we would have been in trouble.

Which shows both Tuchel’s single mindedness: Many Managers in the past would have shied away from making changes until the game was almost lost.

It also offers encouragement for England fans that Rice – whilst struggling – was able to continue and should be good to go in the very different tempo of a semi final on Wednesday night against holders Argentina. At the every much more sensible time of 8pm. As will be, the final. Not that England fans will be looking that far ahead.