France vs England Third-Place Playoff: Deschamps and Tuchel Say Neither Team Wants 'Chocolate Medal'

The FIFA World Cup third-place playoff between France and England may determine the tournament's bronze medallist, but both teams have openly admitted they would rather not be playing the match.

Ahead of Saturday's clash in Miami, France coach Didier Deschamps and England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that their ultimate goal had always been to reach the final, making the third-place playoff a difficult contest to embrace emotionally.

France enter the match after losing to Spain in the semi-finals, while England suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina, ending both teams' hopes of competing for the World Cup title.

Didier Deschamps: 'The Best Thing Would Be If This Match Didn't Exist'

Speaking before what will be his final game as France coach, Didier Deschamps did not hide his disappointment about playing for third place.

He admitted that neither France nor England wanted to be involved in the fixture, saying both teams would have preferred to contest the World Cup final.

However, Deschamps stressed that wearing the French jersey comes with responsibility and insisted his players must remain committed to securing third place despite the disappointment of missing out on the final.

The veteran coach also confirmed that the match would mark the end of his tenure with Les Bleus.

Konaté Calls Bronze Medal the 'Chocolate Medal'

France defender Ibrahima Konaté echoed his manager's sentiments, admitting the players never wanted to play a third-place playoff.

He described the bronze medal as the "chocolate medal," a term sometimes used to suggest a consolation prize rather than a major achievement.

Despite that, Konaté said the squad is determined to end Deschamps' successful tenure with a victory and give their departing coach a memorable farewell.

Thomas Tuchel: 'Nobody Wants to Be in This Game'

England manager Thomas Tuchel was equally candid about the fixture.

He said every team enters the tournament with the dream of reaching the World Cup final, not playing for third place.

While acknowledging the disappointment, Tuchel insisted the match still carries importance because it is an official World Cup fixture against one of the strongest teams in international football.

He believes the game offers England another opportunity to demonstrate the progress made during the tournament.

England Could Rotate Their Squad

Tuchel also hinted that England may make several changes to the starting lineup for the bronze medal match.

With the tournament nearing its conclusion, the England manager is expected to use the fixture to assess squad depth while giving opportunities to players who featured less frequently during the competition.

A Battle for Pride

Although neither team wanted to be competing for third place, both France and England will still aim to finish the tournament on a positive note.

The match also marks the end of an era for France, with Didier Deschamps preparing to step down after years of success with the national team.

For England, the fixture provides another chance to measure themselves against one of world football's elite sides before turning their attention to future international competitions.

Key Highlights

• France and England will meet in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff.
• Didier Deschamps said both teams would have preferred the match not to exist.
• Ibrahima Konaté referred to the bronze medal as the "chocolate medal."
• Thomas Tuchel admitted nobody wanted to play the third-place fixture but stressed its importance.
• The match will be Didier Deschamps' final game as France manager.

FAQs

Why are France and England playing the third-place playoff?

Both teams lost their respective World Cup semi-finals and will now compete for the bronze medal.

Why did Didier Deschamps criticise the match?

Deschamps said both France and England wanted to play in the final rather than compete for third place.

What did Ibrahima Konaté mean by 'chocolate medal'?

Konaté used the phrase "chocolate medal" to describe the bronze medal as a consolation prize after missing out on the World Cup final.

What did Thomas Tuchel say before the match?

Tuchel admitted nobody wanted to play the third-place playoff but said it remains an important official World Cup match against a top opponent.

Will England make changes to the team?

Thomas Tuchel indicated that England is likely to rotate the squad for the third-place playoff.