JUST imagine the ecstatic scenes at Birmingham Airport tomorrow.
Thousands of fans on hand to greet a victorious team after winning the World Cup third-place play-off.
England are preparing for their third-place play-off match Credit: Getty
A win could be a reprieve for boss Thomas Tuchel Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Yeah, that’s not happening.
Even if Thomas Tuchel’s team beat in Miami tonight — which will be a tall order — the Three Lions players will look for an airport side exit and be desperate to get home.
But celebrating World Cup bronze may not be as unusual as you think, even though many Englishmen — players and fans — believe the game in Florida is a total waste of time.
The winners of the last two third-place play-offs, and , had one hell of a party after this slightly curious fixture, which started at the second World Cup in 1934 when beat .
Tuchel’s squad are still in pieces after throwing away the lead against in Wednesday’s semi-final.
And now they must pick up their weary bodies and face the team everyone thought would end up winning tomorrow’s final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
So, should England actually be bothered about winning a game which, whether you like it or not, is part of World Cup history?
The nation’s record in this fixture is not good.
Played two, lost two.
Yet if Harry Kane scores a hat-trick against France to take his tally to nine goals, he could end up winning his second Golden Boot.
It would not make up for the pain of the 2-1 defeat to the Argies in Atlanta but the accolade would be another decent addition to his trophy cabinet.
Tuchel has to get the balance right. The Three Lions boss will want to give minutes to some players who have not seen much playing time in North America.
But, equally, having suffered severe criticism for the manner of the defeat to Argentina, he will not want to get thrashed by Les Bleus.
Kane may be aware that seven previous Golden Boot winners have scored in the third-place play-off.
This includes Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci, whose late penalty for the hosts against England in 1990 saw him clinch the award with six goals.
After losing on penalties to West Germany in the semi- final, Bobby Robson’s team lost 2-1 in a game notable for being keeper Peter Shilton’s 125th and final match for the Three Lions.
Germany won their last World Cup title after a third-place victory Credit: Getty England's third-place play-off history
ENGLAND are preparing for their third ever play-off match at the World Cup after losing to Argentina.
The Three Lions have played in the fixture twice before and have never won it.
This gives the current crop of players a chance to do something never done before.
Beating France would also mean that it would be England’s second-best World Cup finish EVER.
Here is how England has fared in the past…
England 1-2 Italy, 1990
- Roberto Baggio – 72′
- David Platt – 82′
- Salvatore Schillaci – 87′ Pen
England 0-2 Belgium, 2018
- Thomas Meunier – 4′
- Eden Hazard – 82′
In Russia eight years ago, having lost to Croatia in the semis, Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten 2-0 by Belgium — despite fielding a strong team that included six-goal Golden Boot winner Kane.
Thousands of Belgian fans gathered to welcome the Red Devils home, and the players were greeted by city officials and cheered from the balcony of Brussels Town Hall.
The same happened in Croatia following the 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar. After a 2-1 victory over , the players received a hero’s welcome in Zagreb’s central Ban Jelacic Square.
No one has finished third at the World Cup more often than Tuchel’s homeland of Germany.
Die Mannschaft have claimed bronze in four different tournaments — 1934, 1970 (as West Germany), 2006 and 2010.
Four years after their third place in South Africa, Joachim Low’s side won their fourth World Cup at Brazil 2014 — with a team no better than Tuchel’s current one.
So, maybe England should take it as an omen and treat the game seriously.
However, not everyone feels like that. The third-place winners in 2014 were who, under coach , beat hosts Brazil 3-0.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored six goals each at the World Cup Credit: Getty
Afterwards, Van Gaal — who left the Oranje following the tournament to take over at — said: “The worst thing is there is a chance you are going to lose twice in a row.
“And in a tournament in which you have played so marvellously well, you go home as a loser.”
If England beat France at the Hard Rock Stadium tonight, it will be an OK end to a seriously disappointing week.
But a second successive defeat and a cloud will follow them all the way to Brum.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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