Rice Confident England Are Close to Ending Exhausting Wait for a Trophy
July 20, 2026 ·
Declan Rice expressed confidence that the England squad is currently close to winning a trophy, having finished third at the World Cup. He emphasized the importance of building on these achievements for future success.
Rice Confident England Are Close to Ending Exhausting Wait for a Trophy
According to Soccernews.
Background
Declan Rice, who has experience in four tournaments, is now one of the leaders in the England squad. With achievements in the World Cup and experience in the Premier League with Arsenal, Rice is expected to be able to motivate his colleagues to achieve success in the future and end England's long wait for a trophy.
Why this is important
England's victory over France in the race for third place in the World Cup shows the great potential of the current squad. With Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick and contributions from other key players, England showed they are capable of competing at the highest level, building confidence ahead of the upcoming competition. This achievement also gives new hope to English Football fans who have been waiting for a trophy for a long time.
Main Points
- Rice Confident England Are Close to Ending Exhausting Wait for a Trophy.
- Declan Rice expressed confidence that the England squad is currently close to winning a trophy, having finished third at the World Cup.
- Rice believes England are 'close' to ending 'tiring' trophy drought.
Declan Rice believes England are "close" to ending their long wait for silverware, claiming the team's third-place finish at the World Cup was the Three Lions' best since 1966. England beat France 6-4 in a thrilling third-place clash on Saturday, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick, followed by goals from Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham. England's bronze medal was their best achievement at a World Cup held abroad and their best achievement since winning the tournament in 1966.
However, the nature of Wednesday's semi-final defeat against Argentina, where Thomas Tuchel's side held on after Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute opener and ultimately conceded two late goals, left a bitter taste for many fans. Tuchel came under fire from sections of the crowd at the bronze medal match, although he said after the match that England's win was the "first step" in catching up with the world's best teams.
Rice, who has represented England at four tournaments, has suffered two final defeats (Euro 2020 and 2024), one quarter-final exit (2022 World Cup), and one third-place finish. The midfielder, who tasted silverware with Arsenal in the Premier League last season, is confident that the current British generation will finally deliver the trophy. "This is the best England group in a very long time. That is a fact. Nobody can take that away from us," Rice told BBC Sport after the win over France.
"I think we can be proud as a group. We're just very disappointed to lose in the semi-final. We're tired of always saying that we're proud of getting to the semi-finals or quarter-finals. We wanted to win with England, ultimately. But to get third in this tournament is a real achievement. We were very close, to be honest. There's been a lot of talk about this group over the last few years being knocked out of the tournament. There were defeats in the semi-finals, quarter-finals and finals. I think we need to keep going. I'm sure it was close. It's a game with small margins. It's football and it's a night out. that we lost by a margin and in the penalty box.
England will play on home soil for their next major tournament, as co-hosts for Euro 2028 alongside Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Before then, they will face Spain, the Czechs and Croatia in Group A3 of the Nations League, with the 2026-27 competition starting at the end of September.
What happened next
With their success in winning a bronze medal, it is hoped that England can take advantage of this momentum to improve their performance in future tournaments. Thomas Tuchel, despite the criticism, is committed to improving the team and reducing the gap with the world's best teams. The focus now turns to preparations for qualifying for the next tournament, with England looking to turn hope into reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the goal for England in the match against France?
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, followed by goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham.
What impact will England's win over France have on their position in the World Cup table?
England's win over France saw them finish in third place, which was their best finish at a World Cup held abroad.
When will England play again after the match against France?
This article does not mention England's next fixtures.
What happened to England before the match against France?
Before playing France, England lost in the semi-finals against Argentina.
What does Declan Rice say about the current England team?
Declan Rice believes that England's current generation is the best in a very long time and believes they will win trophies.
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