England assistant coach Anthony Barry opened up on the mood of sorrow in the camp after their World Cup heartache.
The Three Lions turned on the style in the first half of their bronze medal match against France by knocking past a whopping four goals against them.
A double from Bukayo Saka as well as goals by Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa gave the Three Lions a commanding 4-0 lead at half time in Miami.
However, it will be scant consolation for England, who are still hurting from missing out on the World Cup final as they suffered a last-gasp defeat to Argentina in their semi-final tie.
Barry has given a few revealing interviews during this tournament but this was the most candid of the lot as he opened up on the hurt amongst the England squad.
‘I’m a little bit emotional’
“Have to be honest, there’s so much frustration,” a visibly emotional Barry said in his half time interview with BBC Sport.
“I’m a little bit emotional, I can’t find the words about how proud I am of those players.
“We’re playing a game with broken hearts, 11 lads with broken hearts.
“I’ve seen them in the hotel in the last few days with broken hearts.
“They can build a performance like that by playing through pride for England. The team spirit we’ve built in the last seven weeks.
“The cynics will say it’s too late but we still play against a world-class opponent and I’m so proud of the boys.
“There’s 45 minutes to go. The game’s not done. Anything can happen.
“But I’m proud of the team and I hope everyone is as well at home.”
France fightback
Barry’s claims of the game not being over proved to be bang on with France reducing England’s lead to just one goal within 21 minutes of the restart.
Les Bleus, whose manager Didier Deschamps is managing his final game in charge of the team, were a team transformed after the break as they knocked in three goals by the 66th minute.
Kylian Mbappe got the first inside the opening three minutes of the first half with a powerful left-footed finish with Bradley Barcola slamming in France’s second on 54 minutes.
Mbappe got his second and France’s third just before the second half hydration break to make it a nervous end for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
The latest strike for Mbappe is his 21st in World Cups, making him the competition’s all-time top goalscorer, however, Lionel Messi, who has 20 goals in the tournament, has a chance to add to his tally in Sunday’s final, live on talkSPORT.
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Mbappe is currently on ten goals at these finals, meaning he’s in line to scoop the Golden Boot award with nearest rival Messi on eight strikes at these finals.
