England won a tense ten-goal thriller last night in Miami against France to secure their best finish in a World Cup since 1966, which appears to have alleviated the pressure on Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel looks like he will keep his job, after England beat France 6-4 in a tense third-place playoff match last night in the World Cup.
It’s been a tough week for the German-born manager, after England failed to progress past the semi-finals against Argentina on Wednesday. Tuchel’s second half tactics were the subject of much criticism after Jude Bellingham nudged his team ahead 1-0.
Many people opined that Tuchel should have kept pressing in attack rather than bring on extra defenders try to keep Messi and co. from scoring. Wave after wave of Argentinian crosses eventually found their way past Pickford and England crashed out 1-2 in injury time.
After last night spirited performance against France it looks like Tuchel will keep his job, according to several publications including the Standard Sport.
Tuchel’s squad emerged in Miami last night to contest their concluding World Cup fixture in the third-place play-off – an encounter that France, clearly, fancied playing even less than England.
The Three Lions stormed to a remarkable 4-0 advantage at the interval, but a French revival in the second period meant England had to scramble across the finish line in a completely bonkers 6-4 triumph to secure third spot and England’s finest World Cup showing since 1966.
Both teams made alterations, but Tuchel’s switches were more dramatic as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were both dropped to the bench, killing off their slim hopes of overturning a two-goal deficit to Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to claim the Golden Boot.
Tuchel was booed before kick-off by furious England fans over the gutless way they collapsed late on against Argentina. After not creating a single chance in the last 30 minutes in the semi-final, Tuchel decided to take the anchor off and England steamrolled a lazy France side.
France stormed back in the second half, but a late goal by Bellingham finally put the game to bed and save England blushes.