Declan Rice: My mother told me off for getting sunburnt

Declan Rice has been told off by his mother for getting sunburnt for England’s photoshoot with World Cup sponsors and broadcasters.

The Arsenal midfielder joined up with Thomas Tuchel’s squad late after playing in the Champions League final, then got an immediate taste of the intense heat of an American summer at the pre-camp base in West Palm Beach.

He played in the final warm-up friendly and scored against Costa Rica as preparations ramped up for the Group L opener against Croatia next week, with footage of Rice’s sunburn released on the day of the win at Inter&Co Stadium.

“I think everyone has seen those photos, I was bright red in that photoshoot. My mum was killing me!” he said. “Honestly, the first day we came, it was just getting used to that heat. Coming from England where it’s hot-cold, all different types of weather, coming here and it’s always 30 degrees – it really does hit you in the face.”

England coped better in the heat than against New Zealand at the weekend and also had to contend with an hour delay to kick-off after a lightning storm. Matches could be severely delayed at the tournament if there is lightning near stadiums.

“We got into the rooms at the hotel and it was bright sunshine, you take a nap and you’re like, ‘What’s going on here?’” Rice added. “The manager said that’s what you’re going to face at this tournament because they had it at the Club World Cup, where it’s stop-start. Even in a game, you could be playing 60-65 minutes and the next thing, thunder and lightning strikes and you have to come off.

“So you have to adapt to everything and the manager has made us fully aware of that. It was only an hour’s difference today, so it wasn’t too much, but it was good to get a taste of it, potentially for what’s to come and how to deal with it, and we’re adapting to everything.”

Rice’s appearance was the 62nd of his mammoth season, in which Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached the final of the Champions League.

“It’s been more mentally tough than physically,” he added. “Even though I have played so many games, the emotions you go through on a football pitch is ridiculous. Trying to win the Premier League and obviously winning it, and then to lose the [Champions League] final. You’re up and down constantly, trying to adapt. And then full focus turns to the World Cup.

“It’s hard to think about the World Cup in a season because you have so many big games, but when you actually get here it starts to hit you. So I’m happy I didn’t think about it too much ahead and obviously now I have come here with a fresh mind, ready to go.”

England practise penalties after Ngumoha stars in Miami win

England players practised penalties after their behind-closed-doors “scrimmage” that wrapped up their pre-World Cup camp in Florida.

Players who did not start in Wednesday’s win over Costa Rica featured in the “match” against Miami FC which ended in a 6-0 win for Thomas Tuchel’s side after two 25-minute halves.

Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha scored one goal and was reported to be the man-of-the-match in the game at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis and Pickleball Center where England have been training.

Ivan Toney was also on the scoresheet after he was an unused substitute in Orlando for the Costa Rica win. Tuchel’s team came through the clash against the second-tier opposition without any injuries.

After the win, England practised penalties as they began ramping up their preparations for their opener against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas.

Tuchel and his assistant, Anthony Barry, have been holding back their set-pieces in the friendly wins in Florida but could practise routines without spectators against Miami. And afterwards, they could take the first steps in penalty shoot-out practice by taking spot-kicks.

Jordan Pickford spoke about penalties last week when England first started training, saying he expected preparations to intensify as the tournament gets closer.

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