Too little, too late? England and France save their best for 10-goal 3rd place clash
FIFA World Cup 2026: Nobody wanted to play for third place, yet England and France produced the World Cup's most entertaining match. Bukayo Saka's hat-trick sealed a breathless 6-4 win, while Kylian Mbappe rewrote the record books despite finishing on the losing side.
Brief score: France 4-6 England, FIFA World Cup 3rd place match. (Mbappe (x2), Barcola, Dembele; Bellingham, Saka (x3), Konsa, Declan Rice)
If only they had played like this four days earlier.
England would not have spent the last week replaying the collapse against Argentina, where a 1-goal lead disappeared after Thomas Tuchel's side retreated into their shell and watched Lionel Messi orchestrate a 2-1 comeback. France, meanwhile, had arrived in the semi-finals looking like the team to beat, only to be completely neutralised by Spain's pressing and positional brilliance as Didier Deschamps' side barely landed a punch.
Instead of meeting again in Sunday's final, they found themselves in Miami for football's most unwanted fixture.
France vs England, FIFA World Cup 2026 3rd place: HIGHLIGHTS
The third-place playoff is often treated like an obligation rather than an occasion. Nobody remembers who finishes third. Players would rather be preparing for the final or already on the flight home. Yet, somehow, England and France turned a consolation prize into one of the most entertaining matches this World Cup has ever seen.
For 45 minutes, England looked determined to empty every bit of frustration from their semi-final defeat.
Declan Rice thundered home inside three minutes before Ezri Konsa powered in a header from Rice's corner. Bukayo Saka then took over, scoring twice before the break as England stormed into a stunning 4-0 lead. France, who had looked so composed for most of this tournament, suddenly resembled a side completely out of answers.
That should have been the end of it.
Instead, it became a 10-goal thriller.
France roared back after the restart. Bradley Barcola gave them hope before Kylian Mbappe reminded everyone why he remains football's ultimate match-winner, scoring twice to drag Les Bleus back into contention and rewrite the World Cup record books in the process. Ousmane Dembele added another as England briefly threatened to relive the nightmare of the Argentina defeat.
This time, though, there would be no collapse. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham wrapped things up deep into stoppage time, sealing a chaotic 6-4 victory that delivered England the bronze medals and their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
THE SEMI-FINAL HANGOVER
Perhaps both managers were left wondering where this version of their teams had been.
England had paid dearly for sitting back against Argentina after taking the lead, inviting pressure until Messi and Lautaro Martinez punished them. Against France, there was no hesitation. They pressed high, attacked with purpose and looked dangerous every time they surged forward.
France, on the other hand, looked nothing like the side that had breezed through the tournament before running into Spain. Deschamps' men had been regarded by many as the favourites after dismantling opponents throughout the knockout stages, but they were overwhelmed again in the opening half-hour before finally waking up after the interval.
It made for compelling entertainment, even if both coaches would probably have preferred a far less exciting evening had it meant reaching the final.
SAKA SHINES, MBAPPE MAKES HISTORY
Bukayo Saka stole the headlines for England.
The Arsenal winger became just the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick, joining Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane in an exclusive club. His movement constantly troubled France, and his penalty in the closing stages finally extinguished any hopes of an improbable comeback.
Mbappe, though, left Miami with a record of his own.
His second-half brace took him to 22 career World Cup goals, moving him past Lionel Messi's tally of 21 to become the competition's outright leading scorer. The France captain also finished the tournament with 10 goals, enough to comfortably secure another Golden Boot.
It was a strange ending for two giants who had expected much more from this World Cup. Neither wanted to play the third-place playoff.
By full-time, they had accidentally produced the tournament's most outrageous spectacle.
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Brief score: France 4-6 England, FIFA World Cup 3rd place match. (Mbappe (x2), Barcola, Dembele; Bellingham, Saka (x3), Konsa, Declan Rice)
If only they had played like this four days earlier.
England would not have spent the last week replaying the collapse against Argentina, where a 1-goal lead disappeared after Thomas Tuchel's side retreated into their shell and watched Lionel Messi orchestrate a 2-1 comeback. France, meanwhile, had arrived in the semi-finals looking like the team to beat, only to be completely neutralised by Spain's pressing and positional brilliance as Didier Deschamps' side barely landed a punch.
Instead of meeting again in Sunday's final, they found themselves in Miami for football's most unwanted fixture.
France vs England, FIFA World Cup 2026 3rd place: HIGHLIGHTS
The third-place playoff is often treated like an obligation rather than an occasion. Nobody remembers who finishes third. Players would rather be preparing for the final or already on the flight home. Yet, somehow, England and France turned a consolation prize into one of the most entertaining matches this World Cup has ever seen.
For 45 minutes, England looked determined to empty every bit of frustration from their semi-final defeat.
Declan Rice thundered home inside three minutes before Ezri Konsa powered in a header from Rice's corner. Bukayo Saka then took over, scoring twice before the break as England stormed into a stunning 4-0 lead. France, who had looked so composed for most of this tournament, suddenly resembled a side completely out of answers.
That should have been the end of it.
Instead, it became a 10-goal thriller.
France roared back after the restart. Bradley Barcola gave them hope before Kylian Mbappe reminded everyone why he remains football's ultimate match-winner, scoring twice to drag Les Bleus back into contention and rewrite the World Cup record books in the process. Ousmane Dembele added another as England briefly threatened to relive the nightmare of the Argentina defeat.
This time, though, there would be no collapse. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham wrapped things up deep into stoppage time, sealing a chaotic 6-4 victory that delivered England the bronze medals and their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
THE SEMI-FINAL HANGOVER
Perhaps both managers were left wondering where this version of their teams had been.
England had paid dearly for sitting back against Argentina after taking the lead, inviting pressure until Messi and Lautaro Martinez punished them. Against France, there was no hesitation. They pressed high, attacked with purpose and looked dangerous every time they surged forward.
France, on the other hand, looked nothing like the side that had breezed through the tournament before running into Spain. Deschamps' men had been regarded by many as the favourites after dismantling opponents throughout the knockout stages, but they were overwhelmed again in the opening half-hour before finally waking up after the interval.
It made for compelling entertainment, even if both coaches would probably have preferred a far less exciting evening had it meant reaching the final.
SAKA SHINES, MBAPPE MAKES HISTORY
Bukayo Saka stole the headlines for England.
The Arsenal winger became just the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick, joining Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane in an exclusive club. His movement constantly troubled France, and his penalty in the closing stages finally extinguished any hopes of an improbable comeback.
Mbappe, though, left Miami with a record of his own.
His second-half brace took him to 22 career World Cup goals, moving him past Lionel Messi's tally of 21 to become the competition's outright leading scorer. The France captain also finished the tournament with 10 goals, enough to comfortably secure another Golden Boot.
It was a strange ending for two giants who had expected much more from this World Cup. Neither wanted to play the third-place playoff.
By full-time, they had accidentally produced the tournament's most outrageous spectacle.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
Brief score: France 4-6 England, FIFA World Cup 3rd place match. (Mbappe (x2), Barcola, Dembele; Bellingham, Saka (x3), Konsa, Declan Rice)
If only they had played like this four days earlier.
England would not have spent the last week replaying the collapse against Argentina, where a 1-goal lead disappeared after Thomas Tuchel's side retreated into their shell and watched Lionel Messi orchestrate a 2-1 comeback. France, meanwhile, had arrived in the semi-finals looking like the team to beat, only to be completely neutralised by Spain's pressing and positional brilliance as Didier Deschamps' side barely landed a punch.
Instead of meeting again in Sunday's final, they found themselves in Miami for football's most unwanted fixture.
France vs England, FIFA World Cup 2026 3rd place: HIGHLIGHTS
The third-place playoff is often treated like an obligation rather than an occasion. Nobody remembers who finishes third. Players would rather be preparing for the final or already on the flight home. Yet, somehow, England and France turned a consolation prize into one of the most entertaining matches this World Cup has ever seen.
For 45 minutes, England looked determined to empty every bit of frustration from their semi-final defeat.
Declan Rice thundered home inside three minutes before Ezri Konsa powered in a header from Rice's corner. Bukayo Saka then took over, scoring twice before the break as England stormed into a stunning 4-0 lead. France, who had looked so composed for most of this tournament, suddenly resembled a side completely out of answers.
That should have been the end of it.
Instead, it became a 10-goal thriller.
France roared back after the restart. Bradley Barcola gave them hope before Kylian Mbappe reminded everyone why he remains football's ultimate match-winner, scoring twice to drag Les Bleus back into contention and rewrite the World Cup record books in the process. Ousmane Dembele added another as England briefly threatened to relive the nightmare of the Argentina defeat.
This time, though, there would be no collapse. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham wrapped things up deep into stoppage time, sealing a chaotic 6-4 victory that delivered England the bronze medals and their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
THE SEMI-FINAL HANGOVER
Perhaps both managers were left wondering where this version of their teams had been.
England had paid dearly for sitting back against Argentina after taking the lead, inviting pressure until Messi and Lautaro Martinez punished them. Against France, there was no hesitation. They pressed high, attacked with purpose and looked dangerous every time they surged forward.
France, on the other hand, looked nothing like the side that had breezed through the tournament before running into Spain. Deschamps' men had been regarded by many as the favourites after dismantling opponents throughout the knockout stages, but they were overwhelmed again in the opening half-hour before finally waking up after the interval.
It made for compelling entertainment, even if both coaches would probably have preferred a far less exciting evening had it meant reaching the final.
SAKA SHINES, MBAPPE MAKES HISTORY
Bukayo Saka stole the headlines for England.
The Arsenal winger became just the fourth England player to score a World Cup hat-trick, joining Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane in an exclusive club. His movement constantly troubled France, and his penalty in the closing stages finally extinguished any hopes of an improbable comeback.
Mbappe, though, left Miami with a record of his own.
His second-half brace took him to 22 career World Cup goals, moving him past Lionel Messi's tally of 21 to become the competition's outright leading scorer. The France captain also finished the tournament with 10 goals, enough to comfortably secure another Golden Boot.
It was a strange ending for two giants who had expected much more from this World Cup. Neither wanted to play the third-place playoff.
By full-time, they had accidentally produced the tournament's most outrageous spectacle.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
