Rice Starts, England Make Three Changes for Argentina World Cup Semi-Final

England manager Thomas Tuchel has named Declan Rice in his starting line-up for Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup semi-final against Argentina after the midfielder recovered from illness.

Tuchel made three changes to the team that defeated Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Reece James starts at right-back for the first time since England’s second group-stage match against Ghana, while Djed Spence has been preferred at left-back, where he is expected to face Argentina captain Lionel Messi.

Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa has been selected on the right wing, with Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka starting on the bench.

Madueke, Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly are the three players dropped from the starting line-up following England’s quarter-final victory over Norway.

Argentina, meanwhile, have made just one change to the side that defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals. Rodrigo De Paul drops out of the team, with Atletico Madrid’s Giuliano Simeone taking his place.

The change is expected to see Argentina line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Simeone operating on the right flank and Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on the left.

The match marks the sixth World Cup meeting between England and Argentina, but their first encounter in the tournament since England’s 1-0 group-stage victory in Japan in 2002.

The winners will progress to Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain await after defeating France 2-0 in the other semi-final.

The losing side will face France in the third-place play-off scheduled to take place in Miami on Saturday.