England's victory over Congo in the World Cup was marked by a physically demanding match, according to former Sweden international Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic returned to the starting XI yesterday, but was spotted with an ice pack on his hamstring after being substituted for John Stones. He stated that the entire England team struggled physically, with Declan Rice being a particular concern. Rice's performance was perhaps below his usual outstanding level in the Premier League, but he played a key role in Arsenal's title-winning campaign, logging more minutes than any other outfield player.
"We can discuss about details and that, but today I saw England suffering physically," Ibrahimovic said after the match. "I didn't see them run like before, especially Declan Rice. His quality is to run but it is like he was struggling. Not only him, also the other ones."
Rice moved into a right-back role following Djed Spence's withdrawal and played his part in England's fight back, which ultimately led to their win. Ibrahimovic acknowledged the pressure England faced and expressed happiness that they advanced in the tournament. He noted that England's victory was important for the team's morale and the tournament as a whole.
