France and England agree on this: neither team wants to play on Sunday morning AEST.
France was a favourite to win the World Cup. England was close to ending a decades-long wait for its first World Cup title since 1966.
Both fell one match short of their ultimate goals after losses in the semifinals.
And instead of playing in Monday’s final (which will be between Argentina and Spain), England and France will face each other in a consolation match for third place.
“None of us wanted to play in this game for third place,” France defender Ibrahima Konate said.
“But we don’t have a choice to play. France and England have a big story together. And, yeah, we are looking forward to the game tomorrow, and let’s see what will happen.”
Thomas Tuchel (left) reacts as England gives up their lead to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal. (Getty Images: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates)
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’ semifinal loss to Argentina.
“Nobody wants to be, tomorrow, in this game,” Tuchel said.
“All of these four teams wanted to be in New York (at the final). But it is an official World Cup game. It’s a chance to have the best result in 60 years for England. Mentality is not something that you switch on and switch off as you like it. It is a moment to show that we are actually made of what we showed through the whole tournament.”
French star Kylian Mbappé also still has a chance to win the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s leading 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 is available for the match — the star participated in France’s training session in Fort Lauderdale — but added he will make changes to his regular line-up.
Tuchel said there will also be changes to England’s line-up.
“We do have a match for the third place play-off, 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 head coach Didier Deschamps poses with the trophy after his team won the FIFA World Cup in 2018. (Getty Images: Owen Humphreys/PA Images)
France won the World Cup under Deschamps in 2018, lost a gut-wrenching final to Argentina on penalties in 2022, and fell short tactically earlier this week, 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.
“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.”
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For England, which 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 [semifinal] 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, who has won trophies with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, said his squad was too passive against defending champion 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, I take the blame,” he said.
AP
