England's World Cup players, including star Jude Bellingham, refueled with barbecue food at a Kansas gas station ahead of their third-place playoff match against France. The team, based in Kansas for the tournament, was seen at Joe's Kansas City, a well-known barbecue spot. This stop came after England's semi-final defeat to Argentina, a game that drew criticism for the team's tactical approach.
Morgan Rogers, Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson were photographed at the establishment. Joe's Kansas City shared a social media post acknowledging the players' visit, wishing them luck for the upcoming game. Some players appeared more animated than others in the photos, with Bellingham, Gordon, and Anderson not smiling broadly.
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the team's disappointment after failing to reach the final. He stated that neither his players nor their French counterparts would prefer to play the third-place match, having aimed for the World Cup final. Tuchel noted the team would approach the game professionally despite having one less day of recovery than France.
The third-place playoff is scheduled for Saturday night in Miami.