England Beat France 6-4 but Finish with World Cup Wooden Spoon

Thomas Tuchel will not be short of belief in Thomas Tuchel. On a night this chaotic, perhaps that was always going to matter.

For the England manager, this wildly unpredictable 6-4 victory over France will feel like a powerful answer to his critics. The boos that greeted his name before kick-off, and the scrutiny that has intensified since Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, were drowned out by a result that secured England’s finest finish at the tournament since 1966. It was not the second star he had vowed to chase, but it was a first bronze medal. With Tuchel, the route is rarely conventional — but it is unmistakably his.

Yet those who have questioned him over the past few days will also find evidence for their case. This, they will argue, is what can happen when England push forward instead of protecting a lead. For them, there may be frustration as well as admiration after a breathless win against the tournament favourites. They will also point to England’s second-half wobble as proof of the caution and retreat they believe has defined the Tuchel debate since the Argentina defeat. That is the strange consequence of a match that became, in real time, a referendum on the national coach.

On the eve of the game, Tuchel described the mood among supporters as split “50-50” — a generous reading, and perhaps a naive one. When his face appeared on the big screen in Miami and drew jeers from a crowd dressed far more in white than blue, the message would have been impossible to miss.

England’s response, though, was emphatic. It clearly affected Tuchel and his assistant, Anthony Barry. At half-time, with England somehow 4-0 up, Barry said: “I can’t find the words about how proud I am of those players. We’re playing a game with broken hearts, 11 lads with broken hearts.

“I’ve seen them in the hotel in the last few days with broken hearts. The cynics will say it’s too late but we still play against a world-class opponent and I’m so proud of the boys.”

The cynics will say it is too late. Where was this bravery when it was needed at 1-0 up in Atalanta? Where was Bukayo Saka against Argentina? Here he was sending Theo Hernandez for the baguettes every time he got the ball. So much so, the full-back was hooked at half-time. Saka had scored twice by then. Come the end, he had a hat-trick. Individually and collectively, England were inspired. At least for 45 minutes they were.

We had, mistakenly, thought that Tuchel’s performance in his pre-match press conference would be more significant than anything that played out on the pitch. There, we got an insight into his thinking having had time to reflect on Argentina. And his thinking was exactly the same as it was in the immediate aftermath – England’s exit was not on him. Yes, he would take responsibility, but he was not responsible. There is a subtle difference, yet it is one that would have landed like a sledgehammer in the dressing-room. After parking the bus in Atlanta, this felt like he was chucking his players under it.

Tuchel’s subsequent team selection had an uneasy whiff of self-preservation. Seven changes and no Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham. Surely we could not criticise him if the reserves did not perform? France had Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise in their XI.

England’s start, then, was a shock. They played with freedom, adventure and precision. Goodness, they were brave on the ball. When they took the lead in the third minute, it was overdue, such was the purpose with which they began.

Declan Rice intercepted a ball on halfway and, when France’s efforts to recover the situation amounted to nothing more than a Gallic shrug, the midfielder took that as an invitation. He drove into the space in front of him, composed himself 25 yards out and slammed into the bottom corner.

What to do now? Bring on Dan Burn? Switch to five at the back? There were only 87 minutes to see out. No, England went for a second. They puffed out their chests, gloved up and sought to land another blow. Quick learners, this lot.

Marcus Rashford saw a shot deflected, likewise Saka, who also had a goal disallowed for offside. There were chances at the other end – Dean Henderson saved well from Ryan Cherki – but there would have been France opportunities, too, had England sat back. Instead, here they were, on their feet and marching forward.

In the 18th minute, Rice delivered teasingly from a corner, in a way he had not done since the opening game, and Ezri Konsa flashed a header into the far corner. There were two more before the break and neither goal was at all a surprise. Rashford teed up Saka to finish after the pair burst in behind and Saka rolled an easy fourth after being sprung clear by Eberechi Eze.

Never did we know, however, how dangerous a 4-0 scoreline can be. From the start of the second half, seemingly without instruction from Tuchel, England’s back four set up camp in their own penalty. And so came the invaders.

Mbappe ran away from Konsa to collect an Olise pass for 4-1. Mbappe turned provider when Bradley Barcola escaped Jarell Quansah for 4-2. Mbappe then finished after France knitted passes around a ragged England, and all of this before the 67th-minute drinks break. At 4-3, you could hear the knives sharpening from across the Atlantic.

But England reached into their own cutlery draw and found a blade of their own. Djed Spence charged into the area in the 86th minute and was tripped by Malo Gusto. Saka stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot for his hat-trick. Ousmane Dembele then smashed a French fourth before Bellingham danced through the goalmouth for England’s sixth. With that, the World Cup wooden spoon was theirs.

Tuchel will likely use it to bat away the doubters.