In an electrifying third-place playoff at the World Cup, England emerged victorious over France with an astonishing 6-4 scoreline, highlighted by a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka and a historic milestone for Kylian Mbappe, who became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
The match, held under the intense Miami heat, saw both teams enter with hopes of reaching the final dashed—France fell to Spain in their semi-final, while England succumbed to a late collapse against Argentina. Both coaches, aware of the physically demanding conditions, opted for multiple changes to their line-ups, resting key players for the encounter.
England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, notably left out star forwards Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from the starting eleven. Meanwhile, France’s head coach Didier Deschamps, who is stepping down after 14 years leading the team, excluded Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.
A Goal-Filled Thriller in Miami
The game opened explosively with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice scoring a long-range strike within the first three minutes, quickly followed by a headed goal from defender Ezri Konsa, putting England 2-0 up. Despite efforts from Mbappe and Michael Olise to penetrate the English defense, Dean Henderson, England’s second-choice goalkeeper, delivered an impressive performance between the posts.
As the first half progressed, France struggled to contain England’s attacking momentum. Bukayo Saka extended the lead to 3-0 following a quick counterattack, and just before the halftime whistle, he netted his second goal of the match, celebrating with a decisive fist pump. This commanding lead underscored England’s dominance in the opening 45 minutes.
Despite trailing by four goals, France fought back in the second half, with Mbappe continuing to showcase his scoring prowess, adding to his record tally. However, England maintained their intensity, ensuring the thrilling contest ended with a 6-4 scoreline, delighting fans with an extraordinary goal fest that capped the tournament’s third-place match.