Tuchel's England face France for bronze as the scar of Argentina lingers

Tuchel: semi-final loss is 'a scar that England carry now'

England play France in the third-place playoff on Saturday, the game nobody wants (2) (5). Thomas Tuchel did not hide from the pain of losing to Argentina.

"We feel the most pain of all, and it is our scar that we carry now. It's my pain, and the players' pain," Tuchel said (2).

The defeat stings and Tuchel knows a bronze medal will not erase it. Davor Šuker had a sharp response to Tuchel's reluctance. "The rich don't want to play when they lose. Whoever wins, I assure you that when they're older, they'll still remember that medal" (4).

France await in Miami, and Mbappé is playing

Kylian Mbappé starts for France. The bronze final kicks off at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and it is Didier Deschamps's last match in charge of Les Bleus (4) (5).

England are looking at the future too. Clinton Morrison backed Tuchel to stay: "Thomas Tuchel is still the right man for the England job, unless Pep Guardiola makes himself available" (7).

How to watch: not on free TV

The match is not on free-to-air television. England's bronze final is available via paid broadcast and streaming platforms (1) (9). Kick-off is at 22:00 UK time (3).

Life after Kane

Harry Kane will be 33 by the next major tournament. The striker pool behind him is thin: Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are 30, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is 29, Dominic Solanke is 28. The hope rests on Liam Delap, 23, or a breakout from the next generation (5).

Fan reactions

Supporters are split. Some cannot muster enthusiasm for a third-place match after the Argentina heartbreak. Others point out that beating this France team, even for bronze, is no small thing. The consensus leans deflated but pragmatic, Saturday is still England against a rival, and a medal is a medal, as Šuker reminded everyone.