England defeated France 6-4 in a high-scoring World Cup third-place play-off match in Miami. The game saw England establish a significant lead in the first half before France mounted a comeback, ultimately falling short.
The match began with an early goal from Declan Rice in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa heading in a corner. Bukayo Saka then scored two goals in the final eight minutes of the first half, giving England a 4-0 advantage. This strong first-half performance led some to believe the game was decided.
However, France responded after the break. Kylian Mbappé scored his first goal of the match, and Bradley Barcola narrowed the gap to 4-2 before the hour mark. Mbappé then scored his second goal, bringing France within one goal of England.
Saka completed his hat-trick with an 86th-minute penalty, extending England‘s lead. Despite this, Ousmane Dembélé scored in injury time, making the score 5-4 and giving France a late opportunity to find an equaliser. However, Jude Bellingham scored England‘s sixth goal, securing the victory.
First-Half Dominance and French Response
The initial stages of the match saw England take control. Declan Rice opened the scoring early, capitalising on a loose pass from Desire Doué. Ezri Konsa then added a second goal, beating Adrien Rabiot to head in Rice‘s corner. Bukayo Saka was a key figure in England‘s attack, with one goal disallowed for offside before he scored twice towards the end of the first half. Eberechi Eze provided a crucial pass for Saka‘s second goal.
France‘s manager, Didier Deschamps, made four changes at half-time, including bringing on Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. These changes seemed to spark France‘s comeback. Mbappé scored from Olise‘s through ball after Ollie Watkins lost possession. Barcola then scored, followed by Mbappé‘s second goal after exchanging passes with Olise.
Mbappé‘s two goals in this match contributed to his personal achievement of becoming the first male player to reach double figures at a World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970. He also surpassed Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and became the all-time top goalscorer in World Cup history.
Late Drama and Historical Achievement
The second half was marked by continuous back-and-forth action. Olise had an opportunity to force extra time but could not hit the target. Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson were introduced from the bench for England. Saka, who had not played in the semi-final against Argentina, secured his hat-trick with a penalty, making the score 5-3.
Despite Dembélé pulling another goal back for France in injury time, Bellingham scored England‘s sixth goal after navigating through the defence, sealing the 6-4 victory. This win marked the first time England has claimed third place at a World Cup. Bellingham‘s goal also set a national record for goals at a World Cup, surpassing Gary Lineker, and made England the first team to score six goals against France in this competition.
Bukayo Saka became the fourth Englishman to score a World Cup hat-trick, joining Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker, and Harry Kane. Following the match, England players received bronze medals on the pitch.
Thomas Tuchel, England‘s manager, had made seven changes from the semi-final, with Declan Rice surprisingly named captain despite carrying an injury. Kobbie Mainoo was absent from the bench due to injury, while Jordan Henderson was among the substitutes despite a broken arm sustained during celebrations after England‘s win over Mexico. Didier Deschamps‘ final match in charge of Les Bleus concluded with this defeat.
The match was played on July 18, 2026.
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Source: theguardian.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
