Alan Shearer has launched a scathing attack on FIFA over their decision to stage a 'pathetic' World Cup Bronze match ahead of the England vs France clash on Saturday night. The former England captain labeled the third-place play-off as 'nonsense, rubbish, pathetic' on the Rest is Football podcast, arguing it prioritizes revenue over player welfare.
Shearer's criticism of the Bronze match
'FIFA are going on about player welfare, hydration breaks and all that. Do you think player welfare is taken into account when both teams have lost and within three or four days they’re being asked to play a meaningless third and fourth-place play-off?' Shearer said. 'Not only that, in Miami, in the heat. So talk to me about player welfare, where is it there? What is it played for? It’s only played for one reason: to make more money. So, it’s pathetic.'
The match, rebranded as the Bronze match for this tournament, kicks off at 10pm UK time in Miami, with both England and France still reeling from semi-final defeats. Spain and Argentina will contest the final in New Jersey.
Golden Boot implications
Despite the lack of hype, the game holds significance for the Golden Boot race. France captain Kylian Mbappe has eight goals and three assists, trailing Lionel Messi (eight goals, four assists) who will play in the final. England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham each have six goals.
Managers and players reluctant
England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted the difficulty in motivating his squad, saying: 'None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match. They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is.' Gary Lineker, who lost the 1990 third-place play-off to Italy, added: 'From personal experience, it’s better than going out in the group stage but it’s not the game you want to play. When you go onto the pitch your competitive edge kicks in and you want to win the game anyway. The performance is probably important for Thomas Tuchel.'
Criticism of defensive tactics
Tuchel has faced criticism over his defensive approach in the semi-final loss to Argentina, and is reportedly determined to secure England's best World Cup result since 1966 by defeating France.
