Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Declan Rice captained England in their 6-4 win over France in Miami
"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."
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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 BBC 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."
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Thomas Tuchel secured the highest finish for England at a World Cup under a non-English manager
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 BBC 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."
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Every member of England's 2026 World Cup squad was presented with a bronze medal
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 against France - told the BBC: "One of the best England groups that I have ever been a part of.
"When you see the boys around the hotel, when you see us training on the pitch, when you see us in the changing room, it is a unique group. We had that bond and had so much belief in each other."
On Tuchel, Kane added: "It is his first major tournament. I think he has learned a lot of the squad, the campaign, the travel and the games and what it takes - the pressure."
One of England's wounds that was deepened by the win over France was Tuchel's decision not to send on Bukayo Saka against Argentina.
The Arsenal winger, an unused substitute in the semi-final, scored a hat-trick on Saturday against Les Bleus - then afterwards said he is fully fit, having endured some injury worries earlier in the North American campaign.
"Of course, I would love to have played more but it's too late to talk about that," Saka told BBC One. "I try to do my talking on the pitch and it's done now, move on. I'm fit."
On noise around the manager, he said: "I think that's just part of the game... it's how you react to it, how you use it as fuel and today we finished strong and that's all we could really do and we did that."
England's twisting World Cup 2026 story has a bittersweet ending - with a thrilling victory in the game no-one wants to be a part of.
But how this campaign will ultimately be remembered might not be truly determined until after this team have produced their sequels.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Harry Kane has led England as captain in the past three men's World Cups
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC One: [Tuchel] will keep his job but I don't think he should. He has failed. They are missing out on a World Cup final because of the tactics, they will be devastated.
[There are] so many incredibly wonderfully gifted footballers in our squad and that was why it was so disappointing in that second half against Argentina, because most of them weren't on the pitch.
The frustrating thing is this level of forward thinking and creativity [in the win over France] just wasn't there against Argentina.
Ex-England and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC One: We all thought Thomas Tuchel was going to be the guy who took the handbrake off.
Just disappointed that we retreated so quickly in that game [against Argentina].
I think where was the pace against Argentina? The performance [against France] from Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford and their ability to stretch the pitch... pace kills anyone.
It's a defender's worst nightmare and it is so hard to defend against.
Former England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown told BBC One: Pace and power, it's remarkable to see. But it feels like after the lord mayor's show.
Argentina will be watching thinking 'thank goodness Saka didn't come on at all and Rashford didn't come on until late'. Because their pace is frightening.
Will he stick with any of these in September? I know it's different circumstances but they have sent out a real message.
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Sources: BBC Sport
