Thomas Tuchel has delivered an impassioned speech to the England squad, urging his players to channel their heartbreak after the semi-final defeat by Argentina into a strong performance in Saturday's bronze-medal match against France in Miami.

The squad returned to their base in Kansas City following Wednesday's agonising 2-1 loss to Argentina before preparing for two final training sessions ahead of the third-place fixture. Sources have told BBC Sport that Tuchel collectively encouraged his players to shake off the disappointment and close the tournament on a high note.

Tuchel also made clear how proud he was of the squad's achievements in North America. England reached only a fourth World Cup semi-final in their history — a run that ended in painful fashion when Lionel Messi inspired a late comeback, assisting goals for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, whose 92' strike sealed a 2-1 victory for Argentina.

What a third-place finish would mean

Should England overcome France, it would represent the country's best men's World Cup result since they lifted the trophy on home soil in 1966. The significance of the occasion is not lost on Tuchel, who signed a two-year contract extension in February having originally been appointed in January 2025 on an 18-month mandate to win the 2026 World Cup.

Tactical fallout from the Argentina defeat

The relationship between the 52-year-old German head coach and his players has drawn scrutiny following the semi-final exit. BBC Sport reported that a number of key players were left frustrated by the instructions to manage the game after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead.