Declan Rice: England team is the best for a long time

Declan Rice, England’s stand-in captain, stated, "This is the best England group for a very long time. That’s a fact. No-one can take that away from us." Rice made these remarks following England’s impressive 6-4 victory over France, which awarded the Three Lions a bronze medal at World Cup 2026, marking their best finish since 1966. He expressed confidence that major tournament success was "close" for England.

Despite facing criticism regarding Thomas Tuchel’s tactics following their semi-final loss to Argentina, Rice lauded the team’s overall performance. "I think we can be proud as a group. We’re just gutted we lost in that semi-final. We’re tired of saying we’re proud of coming in semi-finals and quarter-finals — we want to win with England ultimately," he stated.

Rice addressed the group’s journey, emphasizing their resilience and potential: "To come third in this tournament is a real achievement. We’re so close, honestly. There’s been so much talk about this group over the last few years going out of tournaments. I think we need to keep going. It’s a game of small margins. It’s football and the other night we lost on margins and in the boxes."

The team’s assistant manager, Anthony Barry, shared his emotional perspective during a halftime interview when England was leading 4-0. He expressed his pride in the players despite their heartbreak from earlier tournament exits: "There’s no frustration. I’m a little bit emotional. I can’t find the words to describe how proud I am of these players. They can build a performance like that through pride of playing for England."

Following the tournament, it appears that Tuchel will retain his position as manager for Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted in England, despite facing backlash over decisions taken during the semi-final match against Argentina. Regarding their performance, Tuchel acknowledged the progress made and the need to overcome gaps against world-class teams: "We have the ability to close it, but they have the ability to open it up again."

Harry Kane, England's captain, remarked on the team spirit, describing it as one of the best groups he has ever been part of. He spoke highly of Tuchel’s efforts during his first major tournament. Additionally, Bukayo Saka, who scored a hat-trick against France, pointed out his desire for more playing time, expressing his determination to contribute positively to the team's success. He noted that reflecting on previous matches was no longer productive: "I try to do my talking on the pitch and it’s done now, move on. I’m fit."

In reflection, while the England team celebrated their bronze medal, their World Cup journey ended on a note of bittersweet achievement, leaving discussions about the future and further potential open.