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Thomas Tuchel has voiced strong criticism of the World Cup third-place play-off, insisting that neither his England squad nor their French opponents are eager to participate in the fixture. England’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 were dashed by Argentina in a tense semi-final, leaving them with one final, largely unwanted match to contest in Miami.

Tuchel questions the need for a third-place match

Following England’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday, Tuchel expressed his displeasure at having to play another game. The German coach argued that the emotional and physical toll of a World Cup semi-final makes it extremely difficult for players to find motivation for a match where the ultimate goal is already out of reach.

“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” Tuchel told reporters after the loss. “They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is. We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”

Tuchel defends England’s semi-final run

Despite criticism following England’s elimination, Tuchel maintained that reaching the semi-finals should be recognised as a significant achievement for the national side. While the wait for a title since 1966 continues, the former Chelsea manager pointed out that many of the sport’s major powers failed to advance as far as England in this World Cup held in North America.

Reflecting on the campaign, Tuchel said: “We’ll have to wait four years before participating in another World Cup,” he noted. “Reaching the semi-finals is already an achievement in itself, of course. Many great footballing nations are eliminated before the semi-finals. It’s an achievement, but nobody wants to hear that right now, myself included, because we hold ourselves to very high standards.”

Facing tactical criticism

Tuchel has come under scrutiny for his tactical choice to switch to a back five after Anthony Gordon put England ahead against Argentina. Critics, including Wayne Rooney, argued that the change invited pressure and contributed to Argentina’s late turnaround. However, Tuchel remains firm in his belief that his decisions were justified and that he intends to continue his role with the Football Association.

Discussing the tactical approach, he explained: “At the moment, no regrets. The team gave everything and we were very, very close. We deserved to be up 1-0. We played one of our better matches, maybe our best match under the circumstances. The team was top – we couldn’t bring it over the line.” He further confirmed he has no plans to step down, with his focus already on preparing for the 2028 European Championship.

Preparing to face France as a response

Although Tuchel is unhappy with the concept of a third-place play-off, he recognises the encounter in Miami as an opportunity for his players to begin the recovery process after a difficult defeat. Facing a French team that also suffered semi-final heartbreak, Tuchel wants to see his squad respond with resilience and determination before returning home.

“The important thing for us is to bounce back and react,” Tuchel added. “That’s what you have to do at the highest level of sport and that’s what we’ll do.” Despite his reservations about the match, a win over France would give England their best-ever World Cup finish on foreign soil, offering a small but meaningful consolation following their semi-final disappointment.