France and England left at the gates of paradise, now face a fight for bronze and redemption

France and England, once hopeful contenders for the World Cup title, now face each other in a battle for third place after disappointing semifinal exits. Both nations harbored ambitions of lifting the coveted trophy, but their journeys were cut short by Argentina and Spain, respectively.

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They were at the gates of paradise, aiming for the world title, now they will try to finish the World Cup with a victory.

The French team, considered by many experts to be favorites, was defeated by a tactically astute Spanish side that secured a 2-0 victory. Meanwhile, England, despite leading against Argentina, ultimately succumbed to a late comeback orchestrated by Lionel Messi and his teammates, losing 2-1. The psychological impact of these losses on the teams' performance in the third-place playoff remains to be seen.

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The French, according to many experts, were the biggest favorites, a team with rhythm, speed, quality, and the largest roster full of great players.

Didier Deschamps, the French coach, is expected to conclude his tenure after this match. Having led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and other significant achievements, Deschamps is reportedly stepping down, with Zinedine Zidane widely tipped as his successor. Deschamps's departure marks the end of a successful era for French football.

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The English, as always, were very arrogant, at least as far as their media were concerned, and they got quite far to the semi-finals, they led against Argentina, but they went to 'close' the game too early, they retreated, and Messi and company attacked with all their might and deservedly turned everything around for a 2-1 victory.

On the English side, coach Thomas Tuchel has faced criticism for his team's semifinal performance, particularly the decision to play defensively after taking the lead. Despite the pressure, English media reports suggest that Tuchel's position remains secure, with his contract extended until 2028. He is expected to lead England into the next European Championship, a tournament where they have reached the final in the last two editions but have been defeated on both occasions.

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Didier Deschamps will end his work on the bench of France with this match, this 57-year-old announced back in January that he was leaving after the World Cup, now the president of the French federation has confirmed it.