Tuchel hails England mentality after 6-4 bronze win over France

England walked away with World Cup bronze after a 6-4 win over France, and Thomas Tuchel put the wild result down to a team that kept running even as its legs were going.

Speaking after the third-place match on July 18, 2026, the England coach said the Three Lions had been battling physical fatigue, according to Telemundo. Tuchel said the mentality his players showed, plus their response to adversity, was “absolutely brilliant,” Telemundo reported.

The win gave England third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, closing its campaign with a 10-goal match against France. Telemundo described it as a goal-filled game in which England beat France to claim the bronze medal.

England raced ahead, then had to hang on

Telemundo’s match clips showed England building a big early advantage. Declan Rice scored the opener for 1-0, Ezri Konsa made it 2-0, and Bukayo Saka pushed England further ahead with the 3-0 goal, according to Telemundo’s coverage.

Saka then scored again for 4-0, a moment Telemundo framed as a rough turn for France and Kylian Mbappé. The English support in Miami was also shown celebrating as the Three Lions took control, according to Telemundo.

France did not disappear from the match. Telemundo’s clips credited Mbappé with a World Cup goal described as historic, and also showed him setting up Bradley Barcola for another France score.

Ousmane Dembélé later cut the gap to 5-4, according to Telemundo, keeping France alive in a match that had already swung from English cruise control into a late scrap. Telemundo also showed Saka converting from the penalty spot and Jude Bellingham sealing England’s victory.

Saka singled out after bronze performance

Saka was named player of the match, according to Telemundo. In Telemundo’s coverage, he said he believed England won the bronze because of the way the team played in the first half.

The result also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ time with France, according to Telemundo’s coverage of his final match with Les Bleus. Deschamps described his spell with France as “a very beautiful adventure,” Telemundo reported.

Before the match, Telemundo showed Tuchel and Deschamps embracing. After the final whistle, Telemundo also highlighted an emotional moment between English and French players as they shared embraces following the third-place game.

For Tuchel, though, the headline was England’s response under strain. Telemundo reported that he acknowledged the toll on his players’ bodies, while pointing to their mindset as the reason they found a way through France and finished the tournament with bronze.

This story draws on original reporting from TELEMUNDO.com.