Declan Rice believes England supporters should share the growing confidence around the team’s set-piece threat. After the 4-2 win over Croatia at the World Cup, the midfielder pointed to recent data and personal progress as evidence that dead-ball situations are becoming a major weapon.
Across matchday one, England’s non-penalty set-piece expected goals reached 1.03, the highest figure of any team. Rice, who created 48 chances from set plays in the 2025-26 season in Europe’s top five leagues, sees that output as proof that detailed work is paying off.
Rice described how confidence now shapes every delivery, from corners to wide free-kicks, after finding a new role. As time has gone on I feel like now every time I put down a ball for a set-piecewhether
it's a corner or a wide free-kickI feel like I'm going to get an assist or make something happen that's dangerous, Rice That's a good mentality to have over set-pieces and England fans can be excited.
Pushing towards matchday Shot on Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/SRdBjc18eAEngland (@England) June 20, 2026
The midfielder linked that belief to work at Arsenal with specialist staff. I wouldn't ever take corners or set pieces, but [set-piece coach] Nico [Jover] and the manager [Mikel Arteta] at Arsenal saw something in me that others didn't. 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.
England’s win over Croatia in Dallas featured two Harry Kane goals, followed by strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford. Kane’s second came from a precise outswinging corner by Rice, who delivered straight onto the captain’s head to underline the England set-piece threat.
| Team | Opponent | Shots on target | Non-penalty set-piece xG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Matchday one opponent | 12 | - |
| England | Croatia | 11 | 1.03 |
England now face Ghana in their second Group L match, where a win would secure first place. Across the opening fixtures, only Germany recorded more shots on target than England’s 11 against Croatia. England are aiming to win their first two World Cup games for a fourth time, after 1982, 2006 and 2018, with the England set-piece output offering added confidence.
