Rice shrugs off sunburn blunder and vows to carry Arsenal title confidence into World Cup

Declan Rice has laughed off a viral sunburn photo from England’s World Cup warm-up camp in Florida, insisting the embarrassment has done nothing to dent a confidence built on winning the Premier League with Arsenal.

The 27-year-old midfielder arrived at the squad’s pre-tournament base on Saturday and was caught out by the intense Florida heat during the official tournament photoshoot, appearing visibly red across his head and arms. “I think everyone has seen those photos, I was bright red in that photo shoot,” Rice said. “My mum was killing me.”

Rice was quick to find the humour in the situation. Asked how he knows when he has overdone it in the heat, he replied simply: “When the sunburn comes.”

The mishap did not affect his form on the pitch. Rice scored the opening goal as England beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Orlando, rounding off Thomas Tuchel’s pre-tournament preparations with a commanding win.

Rice joined up with the England squad late, having been part of an emotionally exhausting Arsenal season that ended with Premier League title glory — the club’s first since 2004 — followed by the pain of losing the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

“I think the season has been more mentally tough than physically,” he said. “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 final, you’re up and down constantly.”

Despite that rollercoaster, Rice says he has arrived at the World Cup in the best possible headspace. “I feel good as gold. Feel really fit, feel really strong,” he said. “I feel really confident. Winning that Premier League for me, I have come here with a sense of confidence and a spring in my step.”

He added that crossing the line with Arsenal has sharpened his belief that England can go all the way. “Now I have got over that line with Arsenal, it has given me that confidence that we can come here and achieve big things as well. 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.”