Who wins the World Cup game no one actually wants to play?
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 18.07.26. | 12:21
England and France face off tonight in the unwanted battle to decide who finishes third
Sometimes, watching these matches is a genuine delight, especially when at least one team treats a third-place finish as a triumph worth celebrating.
Sweden in 1994, Croatia in 1998 and 2022, Turkey in 2002, and Belgium in 2018 all fit that mould. Yet, the looming bronze-medal showdown between England and France at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami feels more like a reluctant obligation than a spirited finale.
Instead, both the Three Lions and Les Bleus are reeling from crushing semi-final defeats and likely counting the hours until they can escape to well-deserved holidays. Rather than fighting for glory in the final, they must endure an unwelcome meeting that threatens to heap even more disappointment on at least one of them.
Up until that fateful Tuesday night, France looked unstoppable, a force marching toward the title that slipped through their fingers four years ago. But Luis de la Fuente’s Spain proved impenetrable, their tactical brilliance turning the once-unstoppable French attack into a picture of frustration. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and company found themselves stumped by Spain’s defensive wall. Suddenly, their trademark speed and relentless running lost its magic. The sting of defeat was not just about a dramatic turnaround, as England suffered against Argentina, but about being outwitted by a flawless Spanish strategy that laid bare every weakness in Didier Deschamps’ side.
In short, Spain turned the French Superman into a mere mortal, cruising to a 2-0 victory that could have been even more punishing for Les Bleus. After such a blow, France must regroup in body and spirit to face Thomas Tuchel’s squad, who may be nursing even deeper wounds.
England stood just thirty minutes from toppling the reigning champions, Argentina, only for the script to unravel after Anthony Gordon’s opener. Rather than sealing the win with flair, as Spain did against France, Tuchel’s men retreated, giving Lionel Messi and his crew the chance to claw back from the brink, overturn the deficit, and seal England’s fate before the final whistle, despite trailing 1-0 with just five minutes left.
Reflecting on England's collapse after leading for 85 minutes, Tuchel admitted his team became "too passive" but defended his substitutions and tactical changes.
"I trusted my instinct, my experience and my competitiveness to help the team. We didn't get the result, so I take the responsibility. But I would regret it more if I hadn't tried to react."
The German also rejected the idea of blaming individual players.
"If someone needs to take the blame, it's me. I'm the head coach."
Tuchel explained England switched to a back five because Argentina were overwhelming them in wide areas after equalising the midfield battle.
"We couldn't stop the crosses or the runners into the box. Argentina found another gear, while we became too passive."
He also suggested England's demanding route to the semi-finals had taken a physical toll, pointing to the exhausting extra-time victory over Mexico at altitude and the intense quarter-final against Norway.
"The motivation was through the roof. If the physical data dropped, there has to be a reason."
Despite the heartbreak, Tuchel urged his players to respond immediately, with Saturday's third-place play-off offering England the chance to secure their best World Cup finish in six decades.
"This defeat is our pain and our scar, but we will overcome it. We won't stop chasing, we won't stop hunting, and we won't stop challenging."
The England boss also admitted the Three Lions are still one step behind the world's elite.
"France, Spain and Argentina expect to win major tournaments. We are not there yet. There is still a gap to close."
WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE
Sunday
Third-place match
00.00: (2.00) France (3.75) England (3.60)
Final
22.00: (2.35) Spain (3.00) Argentina (3.60)
***odds are subject to change***