Chocolate Medal: France and England have made their feelings clear about the 3rd place play-off

When you play a big tournament, everyone wants to play in the final and not settle for third place. And that’s the sentiment echoing from the France and England camps ahead of their match on Saturday 18 July.

France were beaten by Spain and England suffered a late upset at the hands of Argentina to push them into contention for the bronze medal. And frankly, neither team wants to play a playoff in Miami.

“It would be best for France and England if this match did not exist,” Didier Deschamps said this at his last pre-match press conference as the boss of Les Bleus.

Deschamps said it was his duty to ensure his team won the clash, which is less important than the final.

“I have a duty in this game,” said Deschamps. “It’s not a friendly. It’s a third-place play-off. The players, the staff and I have an obligation to achieve that last goal. It’s less important than the final. England don’t want to play this game and neither do we. But we’re here.”

“We have to focus on that goal to be third and make this last goal a reality. We have that duty when we wear this shirt. I know in my head that it’s my last game. I don’t want anyone to cry. The end is coming but life goes on.”

Defender Ibrahima Konate spoke for the players and said they had no choice but to play the match. Konate said the aim was to pay back Deschamps, who will leave his role after the game.

“None of us wanted to play for that third place, but we have no choice,” Konate said.

“We want to repay our coach,” he said. “He has done so much for the French team. We have to be grateful to him for that and we have to do everything in our power to win this match … to win this chocolate medal, this bronze medal.”

WHAT DID TUCHEL SAY?

England manager Thomas Tuchel also spoke bluntly about the importance of the game, saying he would rather be in New York and in the final of the tournament. However, he takes the chance to show the progress the Three Lions have made and how they have managed to close the gap at the top.

“No one wants to play in this game tomorrow,” he said. “These four teams all wanted to be in New York, but it’s an official World Cup game.

“It’s a big game against one of the best teams in the world. It’s a moment where we can show that we’re actually made of what we’ve shown throughout the tournament. There’s no doubt about that.”

Tuchel also hinted at changes for Saturday’s game in Miami.

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Published on:

18 Jul 2026 09:11 IST