Rice: 'I feel like I'll get an assist every time I take a corner'

Declan Rice has said he feels he will get an assist "every time" he takes a corner, and that England supporters should be "excited" for what is to come at the World Cup. The England vice-captain spoke after the Three Lions' 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening match, where set-pieces played a key role.

Harry Kane's opening goal from the penalty spot came after Noni Madueke was fouled following a Rice cross, and the England captain headed home his second from a Rice corner. The 27-year-old was part of an Arsenal side that scored from a record 19 corners last season as they won their first Premier League title in 22 years. However, the Gunners faced criticism for a pragmatic style of play and reliance on set-pieces, scoring 25 goals from set-plays overall.

Rice's set-piece evolution

Rice became Arsenal's designated set-piece taker in January 2024 after a mid-season training camp in Dubai, and the Gunners are now renowned for their prowess from such situations. "I wouldn't ever take corners or set-pieces, but [set-piece coach] Nico [Jover] and the manager at Arsenal saw something in me that others didn't," Rice told BBC Sport at England's base in Kansas City. "They said that I can put balls in areas from a dead ball that no-one else can in the team at Arsenal other than Bukayo [Saka]. From that moment, I really just bought into that, believed in that."

"As time has gone on I feel like now every time I put down a ball for a set-piece - whether it's a corner or a wide free-kick - I feel like I'm going to get an assist or make something happen that's dangerous. That's a good mentality to have over set-pieces... and England fans can be excited."

Tuchel's tactical influence

England boss Thomas Tuchel has put an emphasis on playing football that replicates the style of the Premier League. Rice says the Three Lions have worked on set-pieces since the German took over in January 2025, but the tactical aspect of the game has dominated training sessions. "We only get a small amount of time here to work on them because we have to work on loads of other stuff," Rice said. "But also we've been putting this format and the way we're going to take set-pieces in since Thomas has come in. A lot of the way we've taken them hasn't changed much in terms of the movements, the way I deliver the ball... This has been going on in the lead-up for the past year, so the lads know what's coming... where I'm going to deliver the ball. So there's a real gameplan and it's just on me to deliver and obviously the boys have to free themselves up in the box."

Reece James on fitness and set-piece threats

Chelsea captain Reece James, another player with set-piece ability, acknowledged the "huge threats" in the England squad. The 26-year-old worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and is playing at his first World Cup as England's first-choice right-back. James has faced persistent questions about his fitness after a series of injuries. He sustained a hamstring injury at the end of the 2025-26 campaign that kept him out for four weeks and caused him to miss England's games against Japan and Uruguay. However, he returned for Chelsea in time to be selected for the World Cup squad and ended the season with 39 appearances in all competitions for his club.

"People always talk about injuries and availability, and to me it's so boring now," James told 5 Live in Kansas City. "I have one job, which is to be the best I can when I'm on the pitch. To be honest, I understand the stigma at the start, but after a while it gets boring."