Rice insists England are closing in on major trophy after World Cup bronze

Declan Rice believes England are edging closer to ending their long wait for major tournament success after the Three Lions secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France. 

The stand-in captain described the current squad as England’s strongest in many years, insisting the team’s bronze-medal finish demonstrates they are capable of challenging for the biggest honours despite the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to Argentina.

England’s campaign ended on a positive note in Miami after an entertaining victory over France, earning the nation’s best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966. 

While the result provided some consolation following their late collapse against Argentina in the last four, Rice admitted the squad remains frustrated at missing out on a place in the final. 

However, he maintained that the margins separating England from the world’s elite are becoming increasingly narrow.

Assistant manager Anthony Barry praised the players’ resilience after the emotional setback of the semi-final exit, revealing the squad had been deeply affected by the defeat. 

Barry described the team as “broken-hearted” but commended their determination to respond with pride against France, highlighting the strong bond and spirit that developed throughout the seven-week tournament as key reasons behind their impressive performance in the third-place play-off.

Despite criticism over Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decisions against Argentina, the England manager is expected to remain in charge as preparations begin for UEFA Euro 2028, which England will co-host. 

Tuchel acknowledged the pain of falling short of the World Cup final but insisted the squad has not lost belief in his leadership. 

He stressed that England remain fiercely competitive and are determined to bridge the gap between themselves and the world’s leading football nations.

Captain Harry Kane also expressed confidence in the future of the national team, describing the current squad as one of the best groups he has experienced during his international career. 

The striker praised the unity within the camp and backed Tuchel, noting that the German coach gained valuable experience from his first major tournament with England. 

Bukayo Saka, who scored a hat-trick against France after being left on the bench during the semi-final, confirmed he was fully fit and preferred to let his performances answer questions about his limited role.