Declan Rice described England's current squad as its strongest in many years after a 6-4 victory over France secured third place at the 2026 World Cup in Miami.
The playoff developed into one of the tournament's highest-scoring matches. England struck four times in the opening period and carried a 4-0 lead into halftime before France threatened a comeback.
Rice captained England and opened the scoring
Rice wore the captain's armband despite dealing with fitness and illness issues during the tournament. The Arsenal midfielder opened the scoring and completed a campaign in which he started every England match except the final group game against Panama.
Thomas Tuchel rotated his lineup for the third-place match and gave several fringe squad members additional minutes. England responded positively after its semifinal defeat by Argentina and completed its best World Cup finish in 60 years.
Rice told the BBC that the quality of the group could not be dismissed, but he also stressed that England's objective remains winning a major trophy rather than celebrating repeated deep tournament runs.
England's recent tournament record shows progress
England's results at major competitions improved under Gareth Southgate after the defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016. The team later reached consecutive European Championship finals and two World Cup semifinals.
Before 2026, England had reached only two World Cup semifinals since winning the tournament in 1966. It lost the third-place playoff on both previous occasions and finished fourth.
Rice said England remains close to ending its trophy wait and argued that recent eliminations have been decided by small margins. The bronze medal does not settle that ambition, but it adds another deep run to the team's recent record.
Tuchel is expected to continue toward Euro 2028
Tuchel faced criticism after England surrendered a second-half lead in the semifinal against Argentina. Former England midfielder Danny Murphy argued that the manager's tactics contributed to the defeat, while assistant Anthony Barry said the squad entered the playoff with significant disappointment.
Despite the criticism, The Standard reported that the FA plans to retain Tuchel for the next major tournament cycle. Euro 2028, which England will help host, is the next target for the squad.
The France victory closed England's World Cup with a medal and a renewed statement of intent from its captain. The next test will be converting consistent appearances in the final stages into a first major men's trophy since 1966.