Declan Rice was at the heart of a chaotic World Cup bronze medal match against France, but a clip of him after the game has offered an insight into his mentality
Declan Rice was spotted with a face like thunder after England’s bonkers 6-4 victory over France in the World Cup bronze medal match. Rice, who captained the national team with Harry Kane on the bench, got the third place match rolling with a fine goal after three minutes against Les Bleus.
It proved to be the starting gun of an extraordinary clash against Didier Deschamps’ side which saw England go 4-0 up, then get pegged back to 4-3 after half time. The Three Lions did manage to get over the line in Miami, to ensure this tournament was the country’s best performance at a World Cup since 1966.
However, that was little consolation to Rice, who still appeared to be simultaneously weighed down by the disappointment of Wednesday night’s defeat to Argentina and the frustration of almost throwing the match away.
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At full time, Rice slumped to the ground and had the look of a man who was still seething with the defeat to Argentina. He was also seen walking around the pitch in Miami with the same expression on his face.
It demonstrated his mentality as he was evidently furious with the way England almost lost the match. After Rice’s fine goal within the first three minutes, Ezri Konsa headed in the Arsenal’s man’s corner to double the lead.
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After the hydration brake, Bukayo Saka scored a quick-fire brace to hand the Three Lions a monumental 4-0 lead. Deschamps made four changes at half time and was immediately paid back by Kylian Mbappe scoring within three minutes of the second half.
England’s lead was then sliced in half by Bradley Barcola, one of Dechamps’ substitutions, finding the net just six minutes later. The blue shirts began to overwhelm those in white, and on 66 minutes, Mbappe added his second with a great strike to make it 4-3.
Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham’s introduction led to England getting back control of the ball and the bronze medal match was seemingly sealed when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, after the excellent Djed Spence was brought down in the box.
However, the Three Lions were breached again by Ousmane Dembele in the 96th minute, who found the net after so many of his team-mates missed excellent chances.
As English fears of losing another lead began to linger, Bellingham completed an immense counter-attack by essentially dribbling through the whole French team before placing the ball in the corner.
Mixed emotions were definitely the theme of the result and while the match will live long in the memory, it will surely not banish the pain of the loss to Argentina.
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