England and France Prepare for Third-Place Match as Managers Express Disappointment
Brutal honesty on the French bench
France head coach Didier Deschamps did not hide his lack of interest in the consolation match. “The best thing for France and England would be for this match not to exist,” the French manager said bluntly, reflecting the feelings of a squad still hurting after falling just short of the grand final.
Tuchel echoes the frustration
Along the same lines, England manager Thomas Tuchel backed his colleague’s stance and was categorical about the players’ mood: “None of our players, and none of the French players, wants to play the third-place match. They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve it.”