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Tuchel Unmotivated Before Third-Place Match: "Nobody Wants to Play This Game"

Eliminated in the World Cup semi-final by Argentina, England face France on Saturday for third place. Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that neither his players nor the Blues want to play this match.

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Tuchel Unmotivated Before Third-Place Match: "Nobody Wants to Play This Game"
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Thomas Tuchel made no attempt to hide his disappointment after England’s elimination in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, admitting at a press conference that neither side really wanted to play the third-place match against France on Saturday (11 p.m.).

The Three Lions appeared capable of reaching their first final since 1966. Dominant in the first half, they took the lead in the 55th minute on a counter-attack finished by Anthony Gordon. But Argentina turned the tables in the closing minutes thanks to Enzo Fernandez (85th) and Lautaro Martinez (90+2), both set up by Lionel Messi.

“Nobody wants to hear about the third-place match right now,” Tuchel said immediately after. “None of my players, none of the French players, want to play this match. They want to play the final.” Words that sum up the state of mind of a dressing room reeling from such a brutal turnaround.

The German manager nevertheless specified that preparations would be made “in a professional manner,” while highlighting a logistical disadvantage: England has one fewer day of recovery than the Blues, who were also beaten in the semi-final.

The third-place match will therefore pit two teams forced to meet after each had harbored ambitions of a final. For Tuchel, the immediate challenge is to rebuild mentally a shattered squad, before tackling an England-France clash that, despite everything, remains a top-tier fixture on the world stage.

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