England head coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted that neither his players nor the France squad are enthusiastic about competing in the third-place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after both nations narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
England’s hopes of reaching their second World Cup final were dashed in dramatic fashion after Argentina staged a late comeback in the semi-finals. Anthony Gordon had given the Three Lions the lead in the second half, but Enzo Fernández equalised late in the game before Lautaro Martínez struck deep into stoppage time to seal Argentina’s victory.
France also suffered disappointment after losing 2-0 to Spain in the other semi-final. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro ended Les Bleus’ campaign and denied outgoing manager Didier Deschamps another opportunity to lift the World Cup trophy.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s third-place playoff between England and France, Tuchel acknowledged the emotional challenge of preparing for a match neither team had hoped to play.
Related News:
World Cup: Goalkeepers with Most Clean Sheets in Tournament History Revealed
Argentina Defeat England 2-1 to Reach 2026 FIFA World Cup Final
World Cup 2026: Tuchel Vows to Stay as England Coach Until Euro 2028
According to the German coach, the players from both sides would much rather be preparing for Sunday’s World Cup final than competing for third place.
He stressed, however, that England would remain professional despite having one day less to recover than France following their semi-final defeat.
The third-place encounter will be played in Miami, while Spain and Argentina are set to battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
About The Author
