The aftermath of England’s elimination from the World Cup remains a hot topic. Jonathan Liew’s critical column is a must-read for those following the team’s journey.
“If we lose, we lose in our way,” Tuchel instructed his players during half-time in the opening match against Croatia, a rallying cry that ignited some of the most exhilarating football England has showcased in decades. Where did that spirit vanish, Thomas? Or perhaps we should ask, where did that version of Thomas go? Somewhere along the path to the Azteca or amidst the intensity in Miami, Tuchel seems to have lost the fundamental belief that led England to this significant juncture.
In a curious turn of events, Donald Trump’s remarks about Thomas Tuchel were posed to the England head coach during his pre-match press conference in Miami. Unsurprisingly, Tuchel was not impressed.
“Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case or …?”
Tuchel replied, expressing his skepticism.
“You have a great player in England, who I played golf with,”
Ed Aarons was present…
Trump added his voice to the growing criticism of Tuchel’s defense-oriented strategy against Argentina, specifically questioning the England manager’s “You know that, right? He is Harry, who’s been fantastic. “I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player. What do I know about soccer? They took the lead, and they took their best player and put him on defence.” deployment of his golfing friend Harry Kane.
The analysis of England’s disappointing 2-1 defeat against their rivals in the semi-final is underway, with fans and analysts alike scrutinizing the head coach’s strategies and substitutions made during the match in Atlanta.
During a World Cup event at Trump Tower in New York, the president surprisingly joined those doubting Tuchel’s tactics as England gears up for Saturday’s unwanted bronze medal match against France instead of the anticipated final against Spain.
Trump expressed confusion over Tuchel’s usage of captain Kane, who disclosed last week that they had played golf together in Florida about 18 months ago.
“We have got to be a little offensive, right? But, no, I am not going to call it. “Look, what do I know about coaching? But that was a little unusual, but Harry is a great guy, actually.” Trump stated at a press conference. “You know that, right? He is Harry, who’s been fantastic.”
“I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player. What do I know about soccer? They took the lead, and they took their best player and put him on defense.”
Gianni Infantino laughed in agreement with Trump, even applauding his comments.
Trump continued, “We have got to be a little offensive, right? But, no, I am not going to call it.”
“Look, what do I know about coaching? But that was a little unusual, but Harry is a great guy, actually.”
Argentina and Spain have both arrived in New York in anticipation of tomorrow’s final, with prominent players such as Lionel Messi, Emi Martínez, and Rodri participating in a fan fest event in the city last night.
Can you identify the other famous attendees?
Pablo Iglesias Maurer was present for a Q&A session with Messi, Martínez, and Lionel Scaloni, where the Argentina head coach praised his captain once again…
“He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens. With Diego [Maradona], we miss him. But Messi is still with us. He is the history, he is the legend, and together with this group of people who have brought us these wonderful years, we’ll always remember him.”
Greetings and welcome to the final weekend of the 2026 World Cup. After five and a half weeks, with 102 matches played and 44 teams eliminated, it’s time to award the prizes. The highlight is tomorrow, with Spain and Argentina facing off in a captivating final in New York/New Jersey. This spectacle is set against the backdrop of wildfire smoke, an extensive halftime show, and Donald Trump’s unexpected appearance during the trophy presentation.
Today’s event highlights the clash between France and England as they vie for the bronze medal in the third-place playoff. What strategy will they adopt? Will they rotate players? Go all out to secure the golden boot for their star striker? Or simply aim to avoid a heavy defeat?
We invite you to share your thoughts on how the tournament has unfolded and your predictions for tomorrow’s grand finale. Please reach out via email or comment below.
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