Manager Thomas Tuchel has called on England to end the World Cup strongly in an emotional address to the squad after their agonising defeat by Argentina.
World Cup 2026
The players returned to their base in Kansas City following the semi-final loss on Wednesday to undertake two final training sessions before Saturday’s bronze-medal match against France.
And sources have told BBC Sport that Tuchel, in a speech to his squad, has collectively encouraged his players to put their disappointment behind them and finish the tournament on a high.
If England beat France in Miami to claim third place, it would be their best men’s World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.
Match Details
Tuchel is also understood to have stressed how proud he was of their efforts in North America as the Three Lions reached only a fourth World Cup semi-final in their history.
The relationship between the 52-year-old German and his players has become an emerging narrative following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in the last-four tie with two late goals.
BBC Sport reported on Thursday how a number of key players had been left disappointed at how the team were instructed to finish the game having taken the lead through Anthony Gordon.
Tournament Impact
Tuchel reverted to a back-five and made a number of defensive-minded substitutions in the closing stages as Lionel Messi inspired a dramatic comeback by assisting goals for Enzo Fernandez and then Lautaro Martinez’s 92nd-minute winner.
However, the England head coach has since appeared to refute the idea the defensive retreat was a result of the directions he’d provided his team.
He told British newspapers it was never the plan to drop deeper and “it’s maybe not in our DNAâ¦to control the game and ball”.
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