Declan Rice Wears Black Trainers Before England Games
Declan Rice says he wears the same black trainers with his tracksuit before games because he thinks they bring England luck. The 27-year-old said, “In my mind, if I don't wear them, I don't think we're gonna win,” and called himself “proper superstitious.”
Rice and the black trainers
The England midfielder said he always wears the black pair in the video clip, using them as part of a fixed pre-match routine. His explanation was blunt: “always wears them.”
Rice also linked the habit to a second ritual. He said he eats the same meal before playing, and that meal is four pancakes covered in syrup or honey. The breakfast came from the nutritionist for his Premier League club, Arsenal, and he described the pancakes as “just normal pancakes.”
That routine is not framed as a small preference. Rice said, “Honestly, it's been a game-changer. I don't understand the science behind it, what's in them or anything like that, but it gives me such a high energy boost,” giving a direct view of how tightly he treats both the food and the shoes before kick-off.
England and Croatia in Dallas
The superstition lands in the middle of England’s World Cup build-up. England were set to face Croatia in the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, June 17 at 9pm UK time, with around 10,000 supporters expected to watch in Dallas, Texas.
Croatia carries its own weight in this story. England lost to them in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, so the rematch comes with a recent history attached to it rather than a blank slate.
Thomas Tuchel was still deciding on four places in the starting XI, keeping his players on their toes right up until the hours before kick-off. That uncertainty sat alongside Tuesday’s change to the squad, when Tino Livramento was ruled out of the tournament because of a calf injury and Trevoh Chalobah was called up as his replacement.
Rice’s shoes are only one part of England’s preparation, but they sit inside a squad still being shaped and a group of supporters heading into Dallas with a replay of the 2018 semi-final on their minds.
