Best England team for a long time? That's a fact, says Rice

"This is the best England group for a very long time. That's a fact. No-one can take that away from us." England's thrilling 6-4 win against France secured the Three Lions a World Cup bronze medal - their best finish since they won the trophy in 1966 - and left Declan Rice adamant major tournament success is "close". Despite the criticism of Thomas Tuchel's tactics since their painful semi-final collapse against Argentina, stand-in captain Rice was quick to praise England's efforts at the tournament. He added: "I think we can be proud as a group - we are just gutted we lost in that semi-final. "We're tired of saying we're proud of coming in semi-finals and quarter-finals - we want to win with England ultimately. But to come third in this tournament is a real achievement. "We're so close, honestly. There's been so much talk about this group over the last few years going out of tournaments. There's been semi-final exits, quarter-finals, finals. "I think we need to keep going. I do think it's close. It's a game of small margins. It's football and the other night we lost on margins and in the boxes." England's best World Cup for 60 years - but how should it be judged? One of World Cup's all-time classics - England stun France in thriller Defiant Tuchel defends decisions and says loss is 'scar we carry now' 'They're playing a game with broken hearts' But what will it take to move England to the top of the podium at a major tournament? The old chestnut of the England team not wanting it enough, not having enough pride or passion, cannot be seen here. The players were clearly delighted with their bronze medals, collected on a podium in Miami then proudly paraded for the travelling fans. Behind the squad's pride are raw emotions, which were bared by assistant manager Anthony Barry during his half-time interview with broadcaster One on Saturday night - conducted when England were 4-0 up. "There's no frustration. I'm a little bit emotional," said Barry, with tears in his eyes and a shaking voice. "I can't find the words to describe how proud I am of these players. They're playing a game with broken hearts. I see 11 lads on the field with broken hearts. "I've seen them in the hotel the last few days with broken hearts. And they can build a performance like that through pride of playing for England. "The team spirit over the last seven weeks has been a privilege to watch. I know what the cynics will say - 'it's too late' - but we're still playing against a world-class opponent. And that 45 minutes, I'm so proud of the boys." 'I don't think that we lost the trust' It seems likely that Tuchel will stay as manager for Euro 2028 - which is being co-hosted in England - despite the backlash to his decisions against Argentina. The helter-skelter triumph over France aside, Tuchel still must find a way to fix England's inability to win against elite nations at major tournaments - a run which arguably stretches back to the victory over Argentina in 2002. "We have the ability to close it, but they have the ability to open it up again," he told the broadcaster about bridging the gap to the top nations. "Eight years ago, France were the champions. Four years ago, they were in the final. There is a slight gap, but no problem. We want to close it." Regarding the loss to Argentina, Tuchel insists the disappointment is great, but the damage is not terminal. "I don't think that we lost the trust. I don't think I lost the trust," he said on Saturday night. "Whatever happened in these 30 minutes against Argentina, or maybe 45 minutes in the second half against Argentina when we became too passive... whatever happened, why it happened, whatever happened in the last 10 minutes, we were close - but it's my job to take decisions. "We are ferociously competitive, so we almost don't allow ourselves to be proud of third place because we set the highest goal. "We set us the highest dream to chase, and we were very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup, so it is very painful. "If you miss out, the pain will stay for a while. Like I said yesterday, the scar will stay. This is how it is in high-level sport." 'One of best England groups I have been part of' Tuchel can continue to rely on captain Kane - for now. The Bayern Munich striker will be 36 when the next World Cup rolls around, but seems in no mood to hand up his England boots. Kane - who scored six goals at this World Cup, but was an unused substitute a