World Cup 2026 latest: buildup to France v England third-place playoff and Spain v Argentina final

World Cup latest on final weekend of tournament
England’s exit was not just about Tuchel
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The fallout from England’s exit continues. Jonathan Liew’s column is cutting and a must-read …

“If we lose, we lose in our way,” Tuchel told his players at half-time in the opening game against Croatia, a call to arms that generated some of the most thrilling football England have played at a major tournament in my lifetime. Where did that go, Thomas? Or: where did that Thomas go? Perhaps at some point on the road to the Azteca, or in the heat of Miami, Tuchel lost the simple faith that had brought England to this point.

We defended in a deep block. That’s what you do if you defend in a block. You defend in a block. We were not active enough. We could not escape the deep block. That is what teams build: togetherness and mentality is translated to in football terms. We defend as a 10 and as an 11. Together as a team, the team spirit, the togetherness, the mentality that this team built in the last six and a half weeks, is not to be questioned.

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