England’s thrilling 6-4 win against France secured the Three Lions a World Cup bronze medal – their greatest end since they received the trophy in 1966 – and left Declan Rice adamant main match success is “shut”.
Regardless of the criticism of Thomas Tuchel’s ways since their painful semi-final collapse towards Argentina, stand-in captain Rice was fast to reward England’s efforts on the match.
“That is one of the best England group for a really very long time. That’s a reality. No-one can take that away from us,” Rice mentioned.
“I feel we may be proud as a bunch – we’re simply gutted we misplaced in that semi-final.
“We’re bored with saying we’re pleased with coming in semi-finals and quarter-finals – we wish to win with England finally. However to return third on this match is an actual achievement.
“We’re so shut, actually. There’s been a lot speak about this group over the previous couple of years going out of tournaments. There’s been semi-final exits, quarter-finals, finals.”
The Three Lions squad beneath Tuchel has confronted immense media scrutiny, significantly relating to their set-up towards Argentina beneath stress.
Rice’s long-range effort within the third minute opened the scoring towards France earlier than Ezri Konsa doubled the Three Lions’ lead with a header quarter-hour later and Bukayo Saka struck twice earlier than half-time.
Kylian Mbappe slotted in twice to achieve 10 objectives on the 2026 version – transferring two objectives away from Argentina’s Lionel Messi because the main marksman within the top scorer standings – both aspect of the Bleus captain organising Bradley Barcola to fireplace in.
These objectives meant the 2018 champions had decreased the deficit to 4-3 by the 66th minute of a breathless and incessantly end-to-end encounter, however Michael Olise missed a presentable alternative earlier than Saka accomplished his treble with a penalty.
Ousmane Dembele curled in his sixth purpose of the finals from contained in the field within the 96th minute, just for Jude Bellingham to bounce by way of a crowd of gamers and smash in his seventh of the match to make sure England, who rested prime scorer Harry Kane, took bronze.
Rice stays absolutely satisfied that the slim hole between England and the final word prize will quickly be bridged.
“I feel we have to preserve going. I do assume it’s shut. It’s a sport of small margins. It’s soccer and the opposite evening we misplaced on margins and within the containers.”
