Tuchel Calls Semi-Final Loss a 'Scar' as England Face France

According to beIN Sports, Thomas Tuchel described England's World Cup semi-final loss as a scar the players will carry with them, even as they prepare to face France in Miami's third-place match. The German coach continues to face hard questions over his tactical decisions in that defeat.

The third-place fixture offers England a chance to sign off the tournament with a positive result, though the sting of a near-miss at the last four will not fade easily. Tuchel's comments suggest he is not trying to paper over the hurt.

This follows a sharp column in The Guardian in which writer Jonathan Liew argued that Tuchel was quicker to criticise the foundations of English football than to acknowledge his own bold calls during the semi-final may have cost his side a place in the final.