he questioned.
The aftermath of England’s departure from the World Cup is still being felt. Jonathan Liew’s insightful column captures the essence of the situation, urging readers to reflect on the team’s journey.
“If we lose, we lose in our way,” Tuchel told his players at half-time during the opening game against Croatia, a rallying cry that inspired some of the most exhilarating football England has displayed at a major tournament in my lifetime. Where did that spirit go, Thomas? Or perhaps, where did that Thomas go? Somewhere along the path to the Azteca, or amid the heat of Miami, Tuchel seems to have lost the fundamental belief that guided England to this moment.
In a curious twist, Donald Trump’s recent remarks were directed at Thomas Tuchel during the England coach’s pre-match press conference in Miami. Tuchel appeared less than enthusiastic about addressing the comments.
“Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case or …?”
“You have a great player in England, who I played golf with,”
Ed Aarons was present…
Trump has added his voice to the criticism of Tuchel’s defensive strategy against Argentina, expressing confusion over 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.” decision to deploy his golf companion, Harry Kane, in a defensive role.
The analysis of England’s recent 2-1 semi-final defeat to their rivals is well underway, with fans and analysts scrutinizing Tuchel’s strategies and player substitutions made in Atlanta.
During a World Cup event at Trump Tower in New York, the US president unexpectedly joined the chorus questioning Tuchel’s decisions as England looks ahead to the third-place playoff against France instead of the final against Spain.
Trump specifically expressed bewilderment regarding the utilization of captain Kane, who mentioned last week that he and Trump had played golf together about 18 months ago in Florida.
“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 during 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 defence.”
Gianni Infantino chuckled alongside Trump, the Fifa president nodding in agreement and applauding the comments.
Trump added, “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.”
Meanwhile, Argentina and Spain have arrived in New York ahead of the much-anticipated final, with Lionel Messi, Emi Martínez, and Rodri participating in a fan event in the city last night.
Can you spot the other famous faces in attendance?
Pablo Iglesias Maurer conducted a Q&A with Messi, Martínez, and Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni, who once again praised his captain.
“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.”
As we approach the final weekend of the 2026 World Cup, it’s been a thrilling journey filled with 102 games and the exit of 44 teams. The grand finale is set for tomorrow, featuring Spain and Argentina in a highly anticipated showdown in New York/New Jersey, compounded by elements such as wildfire smoke, an extended halftime performance, and the possibility of Donald Trump making an unexpected appearance.
Today’s focus shifts to Miami, where France and England vie for the bronze medal in the third-place playoff. What strategies will they employ? Will they opt for a lineup change, go all out for their star striker to secure the golden boot, or simply aim to avoid a heavy loss?
We invite you to share your thoughts on the tournament’s progression and your predictions for tomorrow’s grand finale. Feel free to reach out via email or leave a comment below.
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