England coach urges squad to finish World Cup on a high after semi-final loss
Thomas Tuchel called on England players to put aside disappointment from the semi-final defeat and aim for a strong performance in the upcoming bronze-medal match against France.
England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed his squad on Thursday, urging them to move past the 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina and finish the tournament strongly in the bronze-medal match against France in Miami. The team returned to their Kansas City base for two final training sessions before the Saturday fixture. Tuchel reportedly praised the players’ overall effort, noting the achievement of reaching only the fourth World Cup semi-final in England’s history. He emphasized the importance of leaving disappointment behind and aiming for a third-place finish, which would be the nation’s best result since winning the tournament in 1966.
"It’s maybe not in our DNA to drop deeper, but we’re proud of what we’ve done in North America," Tuchel said, refuting criticism of his tactical changes in the Argentina match. The coach, who signed a two-year contract extension in February after being appointed in January 2025, retains the backing of the Football Association and is expected to lead England into the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by the home nations.