United States President Donald Trump has criticized the tactical decisions made by England's coach during their World Cup campaign, specifically questioning the decision to play Harry Kane in defense against Argentina. Trump, who played golf with Kane, stated that England perhaps made a mistake by moving their star player to a defensive role.
"You have a great player in England, who I played golf with, Harry, who's been fantastic. I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player," Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower. He added, "What do I know about soccer? They took the lead, and they took their best player and put him in defence. We have got to be a little offensive, right? But what do I know about coaching? It was unusual, but Harry is a great guy, actually."
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Despite Trump's comments on the game, White House's views on England's striker did not appear to affect political sentiments. Andrew Giuliani, the President's World Cup chief, expressed support for Argentina regarding the Falkland Islands banner display.
"We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America," Giuliani said. "And in terms of the ability and the opportunity to make statements, Argentina has the ability to do that in the United States of America."
Trump was expected to attend the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday.
Meanwhile, England players were seen enjoying barbecue therapy following their elimination. Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson were photographed at Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que.
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In other tournament news, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal was spotted in New York City, enjoying an afternoon away from the pitch with his influencer girlfriend, Ines Garcia. The young player was seen purchasing food from a street cart.
A notable statistic from the tournament highlighted Lionel Messi's performance against England, where he completed 10 dribbles. This feat has only been matched by one other player against England in the last six decades: Diego Maradona in 1986.
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Looking ahead, England faces France in the third-place play-off, a match that offers a chance for their best World Cup finish since 1966. The game also presents an opportunity for young Kobbie Mainoo to potentially make his tournament debut, as Declan Rice shows signs of fatigue.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe is set to play his final game, aiming to secure the Golden Boot. He is currently level with Messi on eight goals, with the tiebreaker being assists, where Messi has the advantage.