France and England agree on one thing: neither team wants to be playing on Saturday.
France were favourites to win the World Cup. England were close to ending a decades-long wait for their first World Cup title since 1966.
Both fell one match short of their ultimate goals after losses in the semi-finals. Now, instead of playing in Sunday’s final – to be fought between Argentina and Spain – England and France will face each other in a consolation match for third place.
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“None of us wanted to play in this game for third place,” France defender Ibrahima Konate said on Friday.
“But we don’t have a choice to play. France and England have a big story together. And yeah, we are looking forward for the game tomorrow, and let’s see what will happen.”
Though the match will provide little more than moral victories, it may give Thomas Tuchel a chance to regain favour after the England coach faced widespread criticism about his tactical choices in the Three Lions’ semi-final loss to Argentina.
France star Kylian Mbappé also still has a chance to win the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s highest scorer.
Mbappé has eight goals, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the tournament lead. Messi has an edge in the tiebreaker with four assists to Mbappé’s three. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are also in the mix with six goals each.
France coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé was available for Saturday’s match, but added he will make changes to his regular lineup.
“We do have a match for the third place playoff, and there’s a duty,” Deschamps said.
“We have duties. I have duties, my staff has duties and so do the players. We have a responsibility to wear this jersey for all the French people who are cheering for us.”
It will also be the final game for Deschamps as France’s coach after 14 years leading the squad. Konate said the French players want to “pay back our head coach” with one last win.
“He carried many French players,” Konate said. “We had some disappointing moments, but he brought a lot of joy.”
France won the World Cup under Deschamps in 2018, lost a gut-wrenching final to Argentina on penalties in 2022, and fell short tactically on Tuesday, when the offensive firepower of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise was neutralised by the stout Spanish defence.
Deschamps won one major trophy – albeit the biggest of all – having lost the European Championship final on home soil in 2016.
Thomas Tuchel says if it’s easier to blame somebody for England’s loss to Argentina then blame him. Credit: AAP
“I know it will be the last match and I also know that the French national team will be missed,” Deschamps said. “I had the privilege for 15 years to be up here with this jersey, to experience magnificent moments, more difficult moments. The French national team is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me in my professional career.”
For England, who reached the World Cup semis for the first time since 2018, there is still work to do in closing the gap with France, Argentina and Spain.
“I think out of the four (semi-final) teams, the other three teams almost expect to be world champions,” Tuchel said. “We were hoping. We were dreaming. We were pushing and believing. But still we have to close that gap. And we’re up for that from tomorrow.”
The German coach said his squad was too passive against defending champions Argentina. Leading 1-0 going into the 85th minute and in a defensive shell, England surrendered goals to Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez amid widely questioned tactics and substitutions by Tuchel.
He said he trusted his instincts during the match and did not regret his decisions.
“If it’s easier that someone takes the blame,” Tuchel added, “I take the blame.”
