England secured their best World Cup finish since 1966 in breathtaking style on Saturday night, beating France 6-4 in a pulsating third-place playoff in Miami. But the celebration was overshadowed by a war of words between manager Thomas Tuchel and Croatia great Davor Suker.
The match was described by Tuchel as a “brilliant first half, turbulent second” after his much-changed side, featuring standout performances from Bukayo Saka and Djed Spence, bounced back from the heartbreak of their semi-final defeat to Argentina. England had squandered a one-goal lead in that match, with Anthony Gordon’s strike cancelled out by late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
“England beat France 6-4 for third place in 2026 World Cup, sparking Suker's criticism of Tuchel.”
Tuchel had stirred controversy before kick-off by saying: “None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match. They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is. We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”
Those comments drew the ire of Suker, who inspired Croatia to third place in 1998 and won the Golden Boot with six goals. “I think the rich don’t want to play when they lose,” Suker said. “After 1998, when we played the Netherlands for third place, we fought for that bronze medal, and today I can still speak about it with pride. Some people have won so many trophies and are so wealthy that this match means nothing to them. My message to them is: be quiet, respect all 211 participants, and understand that the world doesn’t belong only to them. It belongs to the middle-sized nations, the smaller ones, and to everyone who loves football. Whoever wins third place tomorrow, I assure you that in 20 years, when they’re older, they’ll still remember that bronze medal. That’s why, in this whole story, coach Tuchel doesn’t matter. He’s talking nonsense.”
Tuchel, who praised his players despite the topsy-turvy nature of the 10-goal thriller, now faces immense scrutiny over his future in the Three Lions hot-seat. The German head coach came under fire for his tactics after England’s collapse against Argentina, when they moved into a defensive shape that allowed the defending champions to capitalise. Against France, however, his side delivered a remarkable response, sealing a bronze medal that Tuchel himself had seemed to dismiss.
The result marks England’s best World Cup finish since their 1966 triumph, but the bitterness of Tuchel’s pre-match remarks may linger long after the celebrations fade.