Declan Rice says England are “building something really, really special” after sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a 5-0 win over Latvia.
The win maintained England’s perfect record in Group K, where they have taken maximum points from six matches, scoring 18 goals without conceding. Though the group featured modest opposition in Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra, England have handled their business consistently under Thomas Tuchel.
Rice, who played an hour in Riga, said the team are fully aware of the opportunity ahead. “We all need to keep pushing it, and keep being as hungry as we can,” he said.
“There’s a special chance in the summer. It’s come around so quickly. You don’t get these chances a lot in football. There’s lads who’ve been at tournaments, and there’s some lads who are experiencing it for the first time.
“So it’s really, really special. And there’s a lot to look forward to. In the last two camps we’ve really stepped it up, you can see that with the group, with the training, with the way we’re playing on the pitch. Every camp we’ve improved.”
England’s progress under Tuchel has been measured, but the results are undeniable and Rice believes the current blend of emerging and established players gives the squad a unique balance.
“We’re probably a much younger squad now,” he added. “In terms of experience, probably not a lot of lads have been at major tournaments, but we’ve been building something really, really special over the last few weeks.
“Everyone’s been looking forward to coming into camp. The last few games, it’s been really really good, high energy, running for each other, pressing really well, scoring lots of goals, that’s what people want to see, so it’s been really good.”
With two qualifiers still to play and expectation clearly building, Rice’s words reflect a squad no longer talking about potential, but about winning. England’s challenge now is to turn all that promise into silverware on American soil.