Disappointed France and England meet in World Cup third-place game
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- France and England, both semifinal losers in the World Cup, will face each other in the third-place playoff match instead of competing in the final, which will be between Argentina and Spain.
- Neither team wanted to play in the consolation match, but both coaches, Didier Deschamps for France and Thomas Tuchel for England, emphasized the importance of representing their countries and finishing strong.
- Kylian Mbappé of France remains in contention for the Golden Boot with eight goals, tied with Lionel Messi, while both teams plan to make lineup changes for the third-place game.
- This match marks the final game for Deschamps as France’s coach after 14 years, during which he won the 2018 World Cup and reached multiple finals.
- England’s Tuchel acknowledged tactical mistakes in their semifinal loss to Argentina and accepted responsibility, stressing the need for England to close the gap with top teams like France, Argentina, and Spain.
