With England's spectacular 6:4 victory in the World Cup third-place match, manager Thomas Tuchel has countered the criticism directed at him for now. BBC expert and former international Martin Keown stated after the win against France that it would be a complete waste of time if they did not keep him, adding that they should support him.

Tuchel had faced harsh criticism from media and experts following England's elimination in the semifinal against Argentina. Before the France match kicked off, boos echoed through Miami's stadium when Tuchel's photo was displayed on the scoreboard.

Player confidence

Tuchel explained that the best thing you can do is respond on the pitch and secure the next victory, noting that everything else is just talk and brings no points. He expressed satisfaction with the team's reaction and performance, as England achieved its best World Cup result since winning the title in 1966.

His contract with the English Football Association runs for another two years until after the European Championship in Great Britain and Ireland. The Swabian manager has the players on his side. Defender Djed Spence stated they definitely want to continue working with him, describing him as a great manager. The 25-year-old from Tottenham Hotspur added that third place represents a step in the right direction and expressed hope that they will bring something home at the next tournament.