Declan Rice isn’t messing around: “This is the best England group for a very long time. That’s a fact. No-one can take that away from us.” Those are the words from the stand-in captain after England’s thrilling 6-4 win over France secured a World Cup bronze medal, their best finish since they actually won the trophy way back in 1966.
So Close, Yet So Far
You gotta feel for the lads, honestly. After securing that bronze in a wild 10-goal thriller against France in Miami, the raw emotion was still there. Rice himself admitted they’re “gutted we lost in that semi-final” against Argentina. He’s tired, and we all are, of hearing about semi-final and quarter-final exits. We want to win! But let’s be real, coming in third at this tournament is a genuine achievement, their best World Cup finish in 60 years. Rice knows it too, saying major tournament success is “so close, honestly.” It’s a game of small margins, and they lost on them in the boxes. The pride is there, the passion is there, and the bronze medals were proudly paraded for the fans. No “not wanting it enough” here, folks.
Tuchel’s Scar and the Road Ahead
It wasn’t all sunshine and trophies, though. Thomas Tuchel has been under fire for his tactics, especially after that painful semi-final collapse against Argentina. But even with the backlash, it looks like Tuchel is staying on for Euro 2028, which England will co-host. He’s got a big job ahead to fix England’s inability to beat elite nations in major tournaments, a problem that arguably stretches back to their 2002 win over Argentina. Tuchel insists the disappointment isn’t terminal, saying “I don’t think that we lost the trust. I don’t think I lost the trust.” And you can see the raw heart from the coaching staff too. Assistant manager Anthony Barry was emotional, nearly in tears, saying he was “so proud” of the players at halftime against France, even with “broken hearts” after the semi-final loss. That team spirit over seven weeks? A privilege to watch. Tuchel acknowledges a “slight gap” with top nations like France, but he’s confident they “want to close it.”
So, where does England go from here? They’ve got that bronze medal, a clear statement from Declan Rice about being the “best group for a very long time,” and a manager committed to bridging the gap. The goal is clear: Euro 2028, with England as co-hosts. The stakes are incredibly high for Tuchel and this “best group” to finally make that leap from “so close” to champions. That’s the challenge they face, and it’s going to be a wild ride to see if they can do it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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