England are hoping for a medical miracle ahead of their clash with Argentina

England are on standby hours before they face Argentina in their World Cup semi-final after Declan Rice’s participation was doubted due to a health condition that overshadowed preparations for the match.

As medical devices race against time to prepare him, coach Thomas Tuchel awaits the final report before making one of his most important decisions of the tournament.

England will make a last-minute decision on Declan Rice’s readiness to start in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Despite the anxiety over the position of the Arsenal midfielder, there is optimism in the camp of the England team that he can recover from the health problems he suffered and join the upcoming confrontation scheduled for Wednesday, reports the British broadcasting corporation “BBC”.

Rice fell ill before the quarter-final match, where England beat Norway 2-1 after two extra periods in Miami, forcing the coaching staff to replace him between the two halves of the match.

England coach Thomas Tuchel admitted after the game that Rice spent three days bedridden before facing Norway, which obviously affected his physical condition.

Reports suggested that Rice had not fully recovered from the illness he contracted while the team was in Mexico, where England beat the hosts 3-2 in the Round of 16, but his condition has seen a marked improvement in the last forty-eight hours.

In light of this improvement, the midfielder’s chances of starting in the match in Atlanta have increased, as there is a belief in the England camp that he will be fit enough to play the game.

The BBC also confirmed that Rice, given the importance of the match, will personally confirm his willingness to participate if his health permits, but that he will undergo a final medical in the hours before kick-off.

Due to the seriousness of the health ailment, the medical staff of the English team intends to postpone the final decision on his participation until the last minute, to give him as much time as possible to recover.

For his part, Tuchel is awaiting the final medical report and how quickly the player will respond to treatment before deciding whether to start the game against Argentina, the BBC reported.

Rice’s suffering is not limited to his recent health problems, as he has been suffering for several months from a nerve problem affecting his lower back and hamstring muscles, an injury that the medical system is constantly monitoring.

The midfielder, who has 78 caps for England, has started all of his country’s matches at the World Cup, except for the 2-0 group stage win over Panama, after he missed it due to a recurrence of a previous injury.