\u201cI believe that three other nations [in the semi-finals] have almost expectations to win the title. This is not us,\u201d said Tuchel. \u201cFrance, Spain, Argentina expect almost they\u2019re on that level that they expect to win. We are not there yet. There is still a gap to close. This is what we will do from tomorrow. We will not stop. We will not stop hunting. We will not stop challenging. We have things to improve in a football matter. And this is the context. So there is not a lot of room for drama. If drama is needed, if the blame game needs to be played, OK, we can do that. But I have the right to not engage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether he had any regrets over his decisions after 48 hours of reflection, Tuchel added: \u201cI felt that we had to do something different for the team, and I took a decision, trusting my instinct, my intuition, my experience, trusting my competitiveness, and I took the decision in order to help the team and get the result. But the decisions are made under stress. The decisions are made in game. I would regret it if we didn\u2019t react. But I have no regrets over the decision itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harry Kane and England teammates train for a last time at their Kansas City base before the World Cup third-place playoff against France. Photograph: Charlie Riedel\/AP<\/p>\n
Tuchel also dismissed Trump\u2019s comments<\/a> that were made earlier during a press conference with the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino. \u201cThey took the lead, and they took their best player and put him on defence,\u201d said Trump. \u201cWe have got to be a little offensive, right? But no I\u2019m not going to call it. What do I know about coaching? It was unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuchel at first questioned whether \u201cyou use Donald Trump as your witness?\u201d when asked about his comments. But he was adamant that Kane had merely been following instructions<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe defended in a deep block. That\u2019s what you do if you defend in a block. You defend in a block,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were not active enough. We could not escape the deep block. That is what teams build: togetherness and mentality is translated to in football terms. We defend as a 10 and as an 11. Together as a team, the team spirit, the togetherness, the mentality that this team built in the last six and a half weeks, is not to be questioned.\u201d<\/p>\n
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