England's future is bright despite painful World Cup exit

LONDON, UK

England came up short against a football superpower in a major tournament once again but unlike previous eliminations, Gareth Southgate and his squad can take plenty of encouragement after going toe to toe with reigning champions France.

England have not had a whiff of World Cup silverware in over half a century and though Southgate's team have come close to realising that dream, the trophy will not be coming home for at least another four years.

A young England side revitalised by Southgate had defied the odds in Russia with a semifinal run that ended in extra-time heartbreak against eventual runners-up Croatia.

Despite arriving in Qatar with more belief than they did four years ago, however, the semifinals proved to be a step too far.

For a squad now rich in tournament experience, the World Cup in Qatar was supposed to be another deep run after reaching last year's European Championship final which they lost on penalties.

"We're not here just to reach a quarterfinal," Kane said before the France game. Yet that is where they fell to a formidable and experienced French side in a game of fine margins.

England created plenty of chances that rattled an edgy French defence, but it was Didier Deschamps's clinical team who prevailed in a gripping contest with little to separate the sides apart from the 2-1 scoreline.

"We've done such a good job that you have fewer regrets. My immediate feeling is that there are less things to reflect on that could have been done differently," Southgate said.

For England, the future is bright with a new generation of players like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham - youngsters who are yet to reach their prime - lighting up the tournament.

"I don't think we looked out of place. There are so many good things they've done, so much to be excited about - like the age of the players," Southgate said.

"We've once again shown the rest of the world that English football is healthy and we've got some players not only for now but for the future as well."