# World Cup 2026 latest: buildup to France v England third-place playoff and Spain v Argentina final

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/world-cup-2026-latest-buildup-to-france-v-england-third-place-playoff-and-spain-v-argentina-final/
- Published: 2026-07-18T07:51:18+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jul/18/world-cup-latest-buildup-france-england-third-place-spain-argentina
- Topics: Americas, Europe, Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final and will play France for third place
- Trump criticized Tuchel's defensive tactics and use of Kane in a defensive role

## Summary

England's World Cup campaign ended with a semi-final defeat to Argentina, with the nation now focused on a third-place playoff against France. The loss has prompted widespread criticism of manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical approach, with both fans and analysts questioning his decisions in the match. Spain will face Argentina in the final.

Tuchel has defended his tactical choices despite ongoing scrutiny, including an unexpected intervention from US President Donald Trump. Trump questioned the decision to use captain Harry Kane in a more defensive role, arguing that England's leading player should have been deployed more offensively after taking the lead. Tuchel dismissed the criticism in his press conference, emphasizing the team's defensive structure and the collective mentality developed over the campaign.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.