After England's 1-2 semi-final loss to Argentina on 15/7, Tuchel was asked about the upcoming match against France at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami on 18/7. The German coach could not hide his disappointment about preparing for a match he believes no team desires. "No one wants to play this match, not even the French players," Tuchel stated. "Like us, they all wanted to reach the final. We gave our all to achieve that goal."

Coach Thomas Tuchel speaks with England players during their 1-2 loss to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final at Atlanta, USA on 15/7. *Photo: AFP*

According to the 52-year-old coach, the defeat to Argentina left the England squad demoralized. Despite this, Tuchel emphasized his team would not give up in the third-place playoff. "We will prepare professionally, even though we have one less rest day than France," he added.

Tuchel's remarks reflect a common sentiment among teams that lose World Cup semi-finals. After being on the verge of championship glory and then losing it, many players view the third-place match as merely a sad conclusion to the tournament.

French newspaper L'Equipe described the third-place playoff as a "superfluous match" and "a consolation that never truly comforts anyone." The newspaper observed that both the England and France teams returned to training "without any enthusiasm" for the Miami match, having lost their dream of winning the championship just days before.

On the French side, coach Didier Deschamps also admitted that the 0-2 defeat to Spain left the entire team in pain. However, unlike Tuchel, Deschamps instructed his players not to take the final match lightly.

"There is still third place, and we will do everything to achieve it," the 57-year-old coach declared. "It is a responsibility to ourselves, to this jersey, and to all who support the national team. This is not a friendly match."

Coach Didier Deschamps encourages Kylian Mbappe after France's 0-2 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final at Arlington, Texas, Dallas, USA on 14/7. *Photo: AP*

The match in Miami will also mark Deschamps' final time leading France after 14 years at the helm, a tenure highlighted by winning the 2018 World Cup and being runner-up in 2022.

Despite often being considered a "match no one wants to participate in" by players and coaches, the third-place playoff remains a traditional part of the World Cup. FIFA has maintained this match since the 1934 World Cup to fully determine the tournament's rankings, rather than using joint rankings or tie-breakers to decide third and fourth place.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the third-place playoff holds commercial significance. It is a major match taking place right before the final, providing broadcasters, sponsors, and FIFA with an additional event to attract viewers and generate revenue. Therefore, despite facing continuous debate about its necessity, this match has been retained across many World Cups. This contrasts with the Euro tournament, where UEFA eliminated the third-place playoff since the 1984 tournament.

Hoang An (according to L'Equipe)