Written with the help of artificial-intelligence tools and checked by automated controls.
This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Thomas Tuchel didn’t mince his words. In the wake of England’s cruel elimination by Argentina (2–1) in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, the German manager made a rare admission about the third-place play-off awaiting the Three Lions on Saturday evening (11.00 pm) in Miami against France. Enthusiasm is in short supply, and the manager makes no secret of it.
“No player wants to play this match”
“None of our players, nor any of the French players, want to play this match.
The statement is scathing and unapologetic. “None of our players, nor any of the French players, want to play this match. They want to play in the final. We gave it our all to get there. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s just the way it is,” Tuchel told the press, speaking to RMC Sport.
The former manager of PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich has, however, promised to approach this third-place play-off with “professionalism”, whilst pointing out a logistical disadvantage that tips the balance: “We have one day less to recover than France. ’ In other words: Les Bleus, who were knocked out by Spain on Tuesday (0–2), have had 24 hours more to come to terms with the disappointment.
England, however, came within a whisker of glory. After Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute, the Three Lions were leading 1–0 and appeared to be in control. But Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste, with Messi providing two assists, turned the tables in the dying moments. The outcome was all the more bitter given that England have not reached a World Cup final since their sole triumph in 1966. Back in 2018, they had already faltered in the semi-final against Croatia (2–1 a.e.t.) before losing the third-place play-off to Belgium (2–0). In 2022, it was the French team that knocked them out in the quarter-finals (2–1).
Defensive choices under fire
The changes made by Tuchel to protect England’s lead after Anthony Gordon’s goal have been hotly contested across the Channel. Why sit back when his team were in control of the match? The German manager, standing his ground, brushed aside the criticism: “I have no regrets. ” According to the Daily Mail, he still enjoys the strong backing of his national association, with whom he is contracted until Euro 2028.
He is, in fact, already looking beyond this World Cup. “We’ll have to wait four years before taking part in another World Cup. Just reaching the semi-finals is an achievement in itself. Many of the big nations are knocked out before that. But nobody wants to hear that right now, myself included, because we set very high standards for ourselves. This competitive spirit allows us to approach the next match with a bit more perspective. ”
The other side of the coin: Les Bleus reeling
On the French side, the mood is hardly any brighter. Didier Deschamps is expected to carry out a major squad review following the disappointment against Spain. Ibrahima Konaté made a bitter observation — “We were behind in quite a few areas” — which speaks volumes about the mood in the French dressing room as they prepare for this third-place play-off that nobody really wants to play.
This France v England match feels like a fixture everyone would have preferred to avoid. A clash of fallen egos, a final of the magnificent losers. But national pride and a last chance to shine on American soil, in front of millions of television viewers, could well defy the odds and deliver an unexpected spectacle, far removed from the calculations and disappointments of the semi-finals.