Declan Rice believes he has the ability to secure an assist “every time” he takes a corner, encouraging England fans to be “excited” about the team’s potential in the World Cup.
England demonstrated their threat from set-pieces in their opening match of the tournament, a 4-2 victory against Croatia.
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Harry Kane opened the scoring with a penalty after Noni Madueke was fouled following a cross from Rice, and then Kane headed in his second goal from another corner taken by Rice.
The 27-year-old midfielder was part of an Arsenal side that excelled at set-pieces last season, scoring a record 19 goals from corners as they secured their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Despite Arsenal’s success, they faced some criticism for their pragmatic approach, which heavily relied on set-pieces (netting 25 goals from dead-ball situations overall).
“Everyone seems to be enjoying [set-pieces] now, right?” Rice remarked during an interview with BBC Sport at England’s training base in Kansas City. “It’s nice to see everyone on board with it.”
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Rice became Arsenal’s designated set-piece taker in January 2024 after a mid-season training camp in Dubai, and the club is now recognized for its effectiveness in such plays.
“I never used to take corners or set-pieces, but [set-piece coach] Nico [Jover] and the Arsenal manager saw something in me that others didn’t,” Rice explained. “They believed I could deliver balls into areas from dead-ball situations that no one else on the team could, aside from Bukayo [Saka]. At that moment, I really bought into it and embraced it.”
“Now, whenever I set the ball down for a set-piece—be it a corner or a wide free-kick—I genuinely feel like I’m going to create danger or get an assist.” he said. “That’s a positive mindset to have regarding set-pieces, and I think fans should be looking forward to it.”
As England’s vice-captain in this tournament, Rice has emerged as one of the most reliable corner takers in the Premier League.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has emphasized a playing style similar to that of the Premier League.
Rice mentioned that since Tuchel’s arrival in January 2025, the team has been focusing on set-pieces, though the majority of their training sessions are dedicated to other tactical aspects of the game.
“We only have a short time here to focus on set-pieces because we need to work on various other things,” said Rice.
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“However, we’ve been implementing our format and approach to set-pieces since Thomas joined. A lot of our tactics haven’t changed much regarding movements or how I deliver the ball… This has been in the mix leading up to this tournament for the past year, so everyone is aware of what’s coming and where I plan to deliver the ball.
“So, there’s a solid game plan, and it’s up to me to execute it while the boys work to get open in the box.”
James on Fitness Talk
Chelsea captain Reece James, another capable set-piece taker, noted the “huge threats” present in the England squad.
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The 26-year-old, playing at his first World Cup, previously worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and has faced his share of injuries, which led to questions about his fitness for regular play.
Having dealt with various injuries throughout his career, he suffered a hamstring issue towards the end of the 2025-26 season, which sidelined him for four weeks and caused him to miss England’s fixtures against Japan and Uruguay.
Nevertheless, James recovered in time to be included in the World Cup squad and concluded the season with 39 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions.
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“It’s honestly quite tedious when people talk about my injuries and availability,” James told 5 Live in Kansas City. “I have one job: to be my best self when I’m on the pitch. I get that there was concern at the start, but it becomes dull after a while.
“I’ve been fit for an extended period before my recent injury, and I don’t pay much attention to the noise surrounding it. I just concentrate on myself, my body, and striving to perform my best for the team.”