- Deschamps says neither France nor England wanted the third-place match.
- France boss cites the disappointment of missing the World Cup final.
- Les Bleus still aim to finish the tournament with a bronze medal.
England and France face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff for the chance to finish on the podium, but neither team wants to be involved in the match. Both teams were disappointed by falling short in the semi-finals and missing out on winning football’s most important prize, leaving them struggling to find motivation in the fight for third place.
France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted that both teams would have preferred to be preparing for the final rather than playing for the bronze medal. However, the veteran manager stressed that representing the national team still comes with responsibility, regardless of the occasion.
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According to Reuters, Deschamps said, "I have a duty for this game. It is not friendly. It is a third-place playoff. The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective. It is less important than the final. England does not want to play this game, and neither do we. But here we are."
Why England and France Are Reluctant To Play Third-place Playoff?
The match for third place has had divided opinions in World Cup history. For teams that nearly made it through to the final, the match becomes nothing short of an indicator of how close they had gotten to achieving glory.
In the semi-finals, England lost to Argentina, just like France lost to Spain. After dreaming of lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, both teams were not able to rest before contesting for third place after just a couple of days.
Deschamps acknowledged that the fixture naturally lacks the excitement and prestige of the final. Yet, he insisted that France must approach it professionally because every World Cup match carries significance, even if it is not the one the players hoped to contest.
Ibrahima Konaté reveals France's Dressing-room Feeling
France defender Ibrahima Konate echoed his manager's sentiments, admitting the players had no desire to play the third-place playoff following the heartbreak of the semi-final defeat.
"None of us wanted to play for this third place, but we have no choice. We want to pay back our coach," Konate said.
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The defender added that the squad has found fresh motivation by playing for Deschamps, who is set to step down after the tournament.
"He did so much for the France team. We must be grateful to him for that, and we need to do everything we can to win this game... to get this chocolate medal, this bronze medal," Konate added.
While the third-place playoff may not carry the glamour of the World Cup final, it still offers both nations a chance to finish the tournament with a victory.