Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara has launched a scathing attack on the World Cup third-place playoff, labelling England's upcoming bronze medal match against France as "a ridiculous game" that neither set of players nor fans want to see. The former Premier League star's outburst came just hours after England suffered a devastating 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, a result that shattered the Three Lions' dreams of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, but manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to switch to a defensive 5-4-1 formation invited relentless Argentine pressure. Enzo Fernandez equalised with a stunning strike in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed home a stoppage-time winner from Lionel Messi's second assist of the night. The result means England will face France at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, July 18, with kickoff set for 10pm Nigeria time (5pm ET).
O'Hara, who has been vocal in his criticism of Tuchel following the loss, did not hold back in his assessment of the consolation fixture. "It's a ridiculous game," the former Tottenham man declared during a Sky Sports studio discussion aired on Thursday morning. His comments reflect a sentiment shared by many pundits and fans who view the match as a pointless exercise in consoling defeated semi-finalists. "No one wants to play in this game. The players are devastated, the fans are heartbroken, and now they have to go through this charade," O'Hara added.
The former midfielder's frustration is compounded by his anger over how England surrendered their lead against Argentina. O'Hara described Tuchel's tactical shift as one of the worst managerial decisions he has ever witnessed, calling it a "sackable offence". Reacting to Fernandez's equaliser on talkSPORT, O'Hara said: "He cannot play like this against Argentina. They will not quit. It's a terrible, terrible decision from Thomas Tuchel. We retreated way too early. We could've had Rashford coming off the bench, we could've had Saka. We had so much more to give in this game and we just retreated. It's a terrible decision".
When Martinez rose highest to head home the winner, O'Hara erupted: "Oh my God, we're out. It's the worst decision ever, it's a sackable offence. Argentina have won it. It's a shocking, shocking decision. Thomas Tuchel, you should be embarrassed! Sack him, sack him, sack him! Sack him now! Embarrassing!". The pundit continued his tirade, saying: "How can you make that decision? With 25 minutes to go, he's all over the place, he's absolutely bottled it and we're out of the World Cup because of Thomas Tuchel".
England's defensive collapse was starkly illustrated by possession statistics. After Gordon's opener, England managed just 12 per cent of possession between the goal and Martinez's winner. Tuchel made a number of defensive changes, ending the match with six defenders on the pitch in a 5-4-1 formation. The strategy ultimately backfired as Argentina launched wave after wave of attacks.
The third-place playoff has long been a source of controversy in international football. Critics argue that it serves no meaningful purpose other than to generate additional revenue for FIFA and fill a broadcast slot ahead of the final. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy took to X to express his dismay: "Wait, there is a 3rd place World Cup game? What kind of loser b******* is that? That has to be the most demoralising game of all time". Miami Dolphins insider Joe Schad added: "To be honest there should not be a third-place World Cup game. Very painful and somewhat pointless for those players and those nations".
Even England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted the fixture is unwanted. "Nobody of these players, nobody of the French players wants to play for this match," Tuchel said. "They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is". Despite his reluctance, Tuchel insisted England would approach the game professionally, adding: "We have a day less to recover. But we will do it, professionally, of course".
The third-place playoff was introduced in 1934 and has been a fixture in every World Cup since. England have previous experience in the match, losing to hosts Italy in 1990 and to Belgium in 2018. The fixture on Saturday offers both sides a chance to end their tournament with a medal, though for O'Hara and countless others, it remains a "ridiculous game" that no one truly wants.
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