Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged that England's players are carrying the 'scars' of their painful World Cup exit, following a 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina. The England boss faced heavy criticism for his defensive substitutions during the match, which saw Anthony Gordon put England ahead before late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the game around.
Tuchel took responsibility for his in-game decisions, stating that they were made under stress and aimed at helping the team secure a result. Despite the defeat, he vowed a strong reaction from his squad, starting with the third-place play-off against France in Miami on Saturday.
The German coach also highlighted the gap England must close to match the standards of top nations like Argentina, Spain, and France. He noted that the gap is evident in the expectations these countries have for winning the World Cup and reaching the final.
England, currently fourth in the FIFA rankings, will aim to bounce back and secure a positive result against France, who were defeated 2-0 by European champions Spain in the other semi-final. The final between Argentina and Spain will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
