Can It Be Said? "Tuchel" Speaks Frankly Before England vs. France in 2026 World Cup Third-Place Match
On 17 July 2026, Thomas Tuchel, coach of the England national team, gave a straightforward interview ahead of their match against France in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff, scheduled for the night of Saturday, 18 July, corresponding to 04:00 on Sunday, 19 July, Thai time.
England missed reaching the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years since their 1966 triumph after losing 1-2 to Argentina in the semi-finals, despite leading 1-0. Meanwhile, France's dream of a third consecutive final was ended by Spain with a 0-2 defeat.
Thomas Tuchel candidly said that neither England nor France players want to participate in this third-place match after the intense semi-final battles, making it almost impossible for players to find motivation to play in a game without a prize.
The England coach said, "None of our players nor those from France want to play this game. They want to be in the final, and we have all given everything to reach that stage."
"Everyone competes to win the World Cup. But as you can see, we have one less day to recover physically than France, yet we will continue to perform professionally."
"We have to wait another four years for the next World Cup. Certainly, reaching the semi-finals is an achievement in itself, as many powerhouse nations were eliminated before this stage."
"It is indeed a success, but no one wants to hear that right now, including myself, because we all set high hopes and pressure on ourselves."
However, Tuchel emphasized the need to see a response proving that England's competitive spirit remains intact before heading home. "What matters is to regroup and respond to the situation. That is what you must do at the highest level of sports competition, and that is what we will do."
