Rice's Fitness Woes Fuel Crypto Betting Surge Ahead of England vs Argentina Semi-Final

Declan Rice's fitness woes continue to plague England's World Cup campaign, sparking a surge in crypto betting ahead of their semi-final match against Argentina. The Arsenal midfielder has been dealing with chronic neural pain since December 2025, forcing coach Thomas Tuchel to make late-game decisions on whether he can take the pitch.

Rice's pattern of starting games only to be substituted or require rest afterwards has become a recurring theme throughout the tournament. He was pulled from action against Croatia in June and DR Congo in July, leading to questions about his fitness.

Tuchel has acknowledged that Rice reported 'terrible pain' but still took the field. The coach's game-by-game approach has been deliberate tournament management, taking into account Rice's importance to England's midfield structure.

The late-decision framing also serves a tactical purpose, keeping the opponent guessing about whether Rice will feature. If he goes through the full pre-match routine without visible discomfort, he's almost certainly starting.