England head coach Thomas Tuchel says the team is still carrying the “scars” of its World Cup exit as it prepares for the third-place playoff against France. Speaking ahead of the match, Tuchel frames the defeat as a lingering source of pain for the players, describing it as heartbreak they continue to carry into the next game. Alongside that assessment, he also indicates that England still has work to do to fully close the gap with the top-ranked nations. The outlets agree that Tuchel uses the “scars” metaphor to characterize the psychological impact of the earlier elimination, while also setting expectations that the squad is not yet at the level required to consistently challenge the best teams. The coverage consistently links his comments to the upcoming playoff in France, positioning the third-place match as both a chance to respond to the defeat and an opportunity to measure England’s progress against a strong opponent.