"We don't want to play the third-place match, but winning the bronze medal is our responsibility": French Coach Deschamps
France's head coach, Didier Deschamps, has stated that while they have no desire to play the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place match against England, winning the bronze medal is the national team's responsibility.
France's dream of reaching the World Cup final for the third consecutive time came to an end after a 2–0 defeat against Spain in the semifinals. Now, France will compete against England for the third-place spot on Saturday in Miami, USA.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Deschamps emphasized that the third-place match is not a friendly but an official competition, meaning the team must play with full responsibility. He noted that although both England and France are reluctant to play the third-place match, securing a victory is essential to honor the national jersey.
"This is not a friendly match. It is an official competition played for third place. The responsibility of the players, the coaching staff, and myself is to fulfill this final objective. It may be less important than the final, but we must fulfill our duty," Deschamps said.
Deschamps, who is preparing to step down as France's head coach after the World Cup, also expressed his desire to end his tenure on a high note by securing third place.
"Our goal now is to secure third place. When you wear this jersey, the responsibility that comes with it follows. I know this will be my last match. I don't want anyone to cry. A chapter is ending, but life goes on," he added.
French defender Ibrahima Konaté also admitted that following the semifinal loss, no player was keen on playing the third-place match. However, he stated that all players are committed to giving a winning send-off to Deschamps, who has contributed to the team for a long time.
"None of us wanted to play for third place. But now there is no option. The coach has contributed a lot to French football. The best way to express our gratitude to him is by winning this match and taking home the bronze medal," Konaté said.
The third-place match between France and England will take place on Saturday in Miami, USA. After being eliminated in the semifinals, both teams aim to conclude their World Cup journey by winning the tournament's final match and securing the bronze medal. - ANI
