Declan Rice has said he eats four pancakes with syrup or honey before a game, a routine he credits with helping his performances.
The Arsenal midfielder described the meal in a May 2024 interview with Men's Health. It is part of his matchday preparation as England head towards a World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday at 8pm BST in Atlanta.
Rice, 27, is expected to have a significant role if he has fully recovered from a recent illness. England have reached the last four after wins over Croatia, Panama, DR Congo, Mexico and Norway. Victory against Argentina would put them in their first World Cup final in 60 years.
Carbohydrate-rich food before a match can help replenish the energy stored in muscles, while syrup or honey supplies sugars that are digested quickly. Whether Rice's particular routine will affect England's prospects remains uncertain.
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