England secured third place at the World Cup with a dramatic 6-4 victory over France in a thrilling third-place playoff match, highlighted by a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka.
The match was a rollercoaster, particularly in the first half, where England established a commanding lead. Goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and two from Bukayo Saka put England firmly in control. France, however, mounted a significant comeback in the second half, driven by Kylian Mbappé's pursuit of the Golden Boot in what was Didier Deschamps' final match in charge of Les Bleus.
Mbappé ignited France's revival shortly after halftime, adding to his tally with a second goal after Bradley Barcola had also found the net. Mbappé's brace made him the first male player to reach double figures at a World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970.
Despite France's spirited effort, Saka's late penalty to complete his hat-trick and Jude Bellingham's seventh goal of the tournament, coming off the bench, sealed the memorable win for England. This victory marks the first time England has claimed third place at the World Cup, providing a positive conclusion to their campaign despite the lingering disappointment of their semi-final loss to Argentina.
The atmosphere in Miami was subdued initially, reflecting the semi-final exits of both nations. Mbappé, aiming to surpass Lionel Messi in goalscoring, also had the motivation to send Deschamps off with a victory after 14 years at the helm. Mbappé had posted a social media message thanking Deschamps, who guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and a final appearance four years later.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has signed a contract extension and aims to lead England into Euro 2028, faced scrutiny following his team's semi-final performance. His pre-match press conference comments, where he defended his decisions against Argentina, suggested the next two years could be challenging for his reputation among England supporters. The reception the players received when collecting their bronze medals indicated their efforts over the past five weeks were appreciated.
Both teams made significant changes from their semi-final lineups. Tuchel made seven alterations, notably naming Declan Rice as captain despite him carrying an injury throughout the tournament. Arsenal will also have concerns over Bukayo Saka starting, given the club's worries about William Saliba's back injury.
Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United midfielder who had not played a minute in the tournament, was absent from the bench due to injury, according to the Football Association. Jordan Henderson was listed as a substitute despite a broken arm sustained during the win against Mexico.
France appeared to be suffering from a hangover from their semi-final defeat early on. A loose pass from Désiré Doué in the third minute was intercepted by Rice, who scored past goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Mbappé lost possession while on a promising run, and Saka had a goal disallowed for offside after an exquisite pass from Morgan Rogers. A crucial block from Maxence Lacroix denied Saka again before Konsa headed in Rice's corner, beating his marker Adrien Rabiot.
Deschamps responded with four halftime substitutions, introducing Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. Within three minutes of the restart, Mbappé scored France's first goal, finishing a through ball from Olise after England substitute Ollie Watkins lost possession. Barcola then extended France's comeback, making it 4-2. Mbappé added his second, exchanging passes with Olise, putting Tuchel's side under pressure.
In a dramatic turn of events, France's Christopher Nkunku missed a chance to equalize after skillfully navigating England's defence. Bellingham and Elliot Anderson were introduced from the bench for England. Ultimately, it was Bellingham and Saka, who had not played against Argentina, who sealed the victory. Ousmane Dembélé managed to pull another goal back for France, contributing to the spectacle that many considered the game of the tournament.
