Alan Shearer has launched a scathing attack on FIFA over their decision to stage a 'pathetic' World Cup Bronze match between England and France on Saturday night. The former England captain expressed his frustration on the podcast 'Rest is Football', calling the third-place play-off 'nonsense, rubbish, pathetic'.
Shearer's Criticism of FIFA's Player Welfare Claims
Shearer argued that FIFA's rhetoric about player welfare is hypocritical, given that both teams are being asked to play a meaningless match just days after suffering semi-final defeats. '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? Not only that, in Miami, in the heat. So talk to me about player welfare, where is it there?' he said.
The match, rebranded as the Bronze match for this tournament, has been a fixture of the World Cup since 1934, but there have been growing calls for its removal. Shearer believes the only reason for its existence is financial gain. 'What is it played for? It’s only played for one reason: to make more money. So, it’s pathetic,' he added.
Player and Manager Sentiment
Shearer also noted that managers and players would prefer to be elsewhere. 'You’ve heard the managers, what they feel, and I’m pretty sure if you speak to any of the players, they’d rather be home now and getting over the disappointment and trying to get a holiday,' he said.
England legend Gary Lineker, who lost the 1990 third-place match to Italy, offered a slightly different perspective. '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,' Lineker said.
Golden Boot Implications
The Bronze match could still have significance for the Golden Boot race. France captain Kylian Mbappe has eight goals and three assists, trailing Lionel Messi who has eight goals and four assists and will play in the final. England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals each and are also in contention.
Tuchel's Determination Amid Criticism
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has faced criticism for his defensive tactics in the semi-final loss to Argentina, is reportedly determined to beat France and secure England's best World Cup result since 1966. However, he admitted it was hard to motivate the team. '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,' Tuchel said.
