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Declan Rice has made history by leading England to a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup following a thrilling 6-4 triumph over France. The Arsenal midfielder rose to the occasion in Miami, delivering a commanding performance that placed him above iconic figures such as David Beckham and Harry Kane in the national team’s record books.

Historic achievement for the Arsenal midfielder

Rice showcased true leadership as England overpowered France in a ten-goal spectacle to claim the bronze medal. Scoring just two minutes and 14 seconds into the match and later assisting Ezri Konsa, the 27-year-old became the first England captain to both score and assist in his debut World Cup match as skipper.

Marking his 80th international appearance, Rice also registered the second-fastest goal in England’s World Cup history, trailing only Bryan Robson’s legendary strike against France in 1982. His early dominance set the stage for a blistering first half as Thomas Tuchel’s men surged to a 4-0 lead before halftime.

Rice now joins the elite company of Alan Shearer, Sir David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and Harry Kane as players who have contributed directly to a goal in their first World Cup match as captain. Of that group, only Kane equals Rice’s two direct goal involvements, having scored twice against Tunisia in 2018.

Fed up with the ‘proud but not winners’ message

Despite personal milestones and England’s podium finish, Rice expressed frustration when reflecting on the team’s journey. Speaking after the final whistle, the midfielder admitted that the squad is growing weary of being satisfied with near-successes. “We’re tired of saying we’re proud of getting to semi-finals and quarter-finals. We want to win with England ultimately,” Rice told the BBC. “But to come third in this tournament is still a real achievement.”

While the 6-4 victory offered some consolation, Rice emphasised that the heartbreak of their semi-final defeat to Argentina remains. He added, “We’re so close, honestly. There’s been so much talk about this group over the last few years going out of tournaments. I think we need to keep pushing. I do think it’s close. It’s a game of fine margins. It’s football, and the other night we lost because of those margins in both boxes.”

Tuchel’s bold selection pays off

England manager Thomas Tuchel displayed his tactical ruthlessness by making seven changes for the third-place playoff, a decision that handed Rice the captain’s armband in place of a rested Harry Kane. This made Rice the 14th player ever to captain England at a men’s World Cup, placing him among legends like Bobby Moore and Billy Wright.

Assistant coach Anthony Barry highlighted the emotional strain within the squad following their recent elimination. Speaking at half-time when England led 4-0 against France, Barry said, “I’m a bit emotional. I can’t find the words to describe how proud I am of these players. They’re playing with broken hearts. I’ve seen them over the last two days, in the hotel and on the pitch, with broken hearts.”

He added, “They’ve managed to produce a performance like that purely out of pride in representing England. The team spirit we’ve developed over the last seven weeks has been incredible to witness. I know critics will say it’s too little, too late, but against a world-class opponent, that first half made me so proud of the lads.”

A strong bond within the squad

Harry Kane, who concluded the tournament with six goals, echoed Rice’s reflections on the unity of the current team. “It’s one of the best England groups I’ve ever been part of,” he said. “When you see the boys around the hotel, during training, and in the dressing room, it’s a special bond. We truly believed in one another.”

As England leave North America, attention now turns to whether this so-called “best England group” can finally take that last step to glory. The 2026 World Cup campaign also saw standout performances from stars like Jude Bellingham, reinforcing the belief that England’s talent pool has never been stronger.