England manager Thomas Tuchel and defender John Stones addressed the controversy surrounding the semi-final defeat at the pre-match press conference and looked ahead to the third-place match against France.
Regarding the team's overly passive performance in the final 35 minutes of the semi-final, Tuchel stated: "I still hold the same view – we were too passive. If you ask me if I regret my decisions, the answer is no. At that time, I made adjustments based on intuition, experience, and competitiveness, trying to help the team achieve a result, but ultimately it didn't work. I take responsibility. These decisions were made under the pressure of the game, and I don't regret the reaction itself."
When asked who should be held responsible for the passive performance, Tuchel said, "I take responsibility. If someone has to take the blame, I will. But I don't think anyone should be blamed. No one can predict the outcome after substitutions. The game is more complex than just simple attack and defense. We encountered problems with the 4-4-2 formation, and the change in formation didn't solve them. This loss is painful; it's a scar on our record. We will move on from this and start closing the gap from tomorrow."
Regarding Harry Kane's positioning, Tuchel explained: "In the last 30 minutes we tightened our defense, and Kane also defended deeply; it was a team effort. The team spirit and resilience that the team has built in the last six and a half weeks are undeniable. We were just too passive in the last 30 minutes, unable to control the ball or find any physical contact."
When asked if he had become better because of his experience in the semi-finals, Tuchel said, "I gain experience with top players every day, and I am better today than yesterday."
Regarding Saka's absence, Tuchel stated, "We decided to use Morgan Rodgers in a more physical approach. He showed something special in training, and I'm glad he proved himself with his assists. Saka was also an option, but we made the decision we did when we were in a difficult situation."
Media outlets questioned the team's declining performance due to high-intensity running, to which Tuchel admitted: "The 10-man game against Mexico, the altitude, travel, lack of sleep, and the extra time against Norway were probably more taxing than we imagined. The players give their all in every game, so there must be a reason for the decline in statistics. Argentina has found another level; their years of accumulated experience and confidence have played a role."
Regarding the questions from England fans and media about the reasons for conceding the goal, Tuchel said, "I never shy away from explaining, so I don't understand your question."
When asked whether the doubts from fans and the media would change his mind about staying in office, Tuchel answered firmly: "No, whether I want to continue or not will never change my mind."
When asked about his future plans and thoughts on the semi-final, Stones said, "I won't stop playing for my country for now. My memory of that game is still hazy and full of emotions. It's easy to say 'what if' afterward, but it's hard to process it right away. Tomorrow is coming soon, and it's a good opportunity to try for the bronze medal, something I haven't been able to do before."
A Brazilian journalist described Tuchel's second-half decisions as "cowardly," to which Tuchel responded: "Absolutely not. I don't read praise, nor do I believe such comments. If we win tomorrow, we will achieve England's best World Cup result in 60 years."
When asked about how he would motivate his players for the third-place match, Tuchel said, "Nobody wants to play this game; all four teams want to reach the final. But this is the official World Cup, an opportunity to achieve our best result in 60 years, and our opponent is the in-form French team. Mentality isn't an on/off switch; we have a chance to show team spirit. I will make some rotations, but I haven't decided on much yet."
When asked if this defeat was the most painful experience of his career, Tuchel said, "I've been through a lot of painful moments, and this won't be the last. That's why we love and hate football. But we will bounce back and keep going."
Stones spoke about his feelings over the past two days: "Today was the first time I was fully prepared for tomorrow's game. Everyone went through pain and emotions, but as players, it's easy to forget that we should be proud of ourselves. The efforts and sacrifices of our entire team, and the support of the fans, are all worth remembering. We believed we could go all the way, so being eliminated in the semifinals hurts even more."
Tuchel concluded by summarizing the gap: "Argentina, France, and Spain, with their years of championship experience, almost guarantee them the title. We are still catching up, and there's still a small gap to close. Tomorrow, against France, we will give it our all."
