Beneath the heavy Miami sun, England and France met not for glory but for consolation, and yet what emerged was something far more vivid than the occasion seemed to promise. Bukayo Saka scored three times and Kylian Mbappe rewrote history's ledger, surpassing Lionel Messi as the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with his twenty-second goal. England claimed a 6-4 victory and their finest World Cup result in sixty years, while France's legendary manager Didier Deschamps departed after fourteen years with a defeat that history will note, even as Mbappe's record endures.
Saka's hat-trick lifts England past France 6-4 in World Cup bronze playoff
France scored four goals in the second half but still couldn't catch England
Mark
Why does a third-place playoff matter? It's not the trophy anyone came for.
Mimi
True, but it's the difference between going home and telling a story. England hadn't finished third at a World Cup since 1966. That's sixty years. For a nation that expects to win, third place is a kind of redemption after losing to Argentina in the semis.
Mark
Mbappe scored twice and became the all-time World Cup goalscorer. Shouldn't that be the story?
Mimi
It is part of the story, but it's shadowed by the loss. He broke Messi's record, yes—twenty-two goals now—but France still went home without a medal. Records feel hollow when your team finishes fourth.
Mark
Deschamps made four substitutions at halftime. That's a lot. Did he panic?
Mimi
Not panic exactly. More like he recognized the first half was indefensible and decided to show some pride in the second. He said as much to the French broadcaster. The changes worked—France scored four goals in the second half. But it wasn't enough.
Mark
Saka's hat-trick—was he the best player on the pitch?
Mimi
He was certainly the most clinical. Three goals, one from the spot. He took his chances when they came. But the match itself was chaotic, end-to-end, ten goals total. It wasn't about one player dominating. It was about England holding on.
Mark
Bellingham came off the bench and scored. What does that say about England's depth?
Mimi
That they have options. Kane and Bellingham both sat out the start, and the team still won 6-4. Whether that's a sign of strength or a sign that Tuchel was managing tired legs after a long tournament—that's the question.
Le Pouls
- England arrived wounded from a late collapse against Argentina, yet erupted to a stunning 4-0 halftime lead through goals from Rice, Konsa, and a brace from Saka.
- Deschamps responded with four halftime substitutions, and France's second-half resurgence — fueled by two Mbappe goals and one from Barcola — turned the match into a frantic, wide-open contest.
- Mbappe's goals carried a weight beyond the scoreline, lifting him past Messi to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history with twenty-two goals across tournaments.
- A penalty converted by Saka completed his hat-trick and steadied England, before Bellingham's late individual finish sealed a 6-4 result and made him the first England player to score seven goals at a single World Cup.
- England leave Miami with bronze and a sense of redemption; France leave with Mbappe's record but no medal, and without Deschamps, whose fourteen-year tenure ends in defeat.
Beneath the heavy Miami sun, England and France met not for glory but for consolation, and yet what emerged was something far more vivid than the occasion seemed to promise. Bukayo Saka scored three times and Kylian Mbappe rewrote history's ledger, surpassing Lionel Messi as the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with his twenty-second goal. England claimed a 6-4 victory and their finest World Cup result in sixty years, while France's legendary manager Didier Deschamps departed after fourteen years with a defeat that history will note, even as Mbappe's record endures.
The Miami heat pressed down on both teams as England and France took the field for the World Cup's third-place playoff, each carrying the bruise of semifinal elimination. Thomas Tuchel chose to rest Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, while Didier Deschamps — coaching his final match after fourteen years — left Dembele and Barcola on the bench. England showed no sign of conserving energy. Declan Rice scored from distance inside three minutes, Ezri Konsa headed in a second, and Bukayo Saka broke free on a counterattack to make it three. Saka added a fourth before halftime, and Deschamps sat watching what he would later call a catastrophic first half.
The second half was a different match entirely. Four French substitutions at the break changed everything. Mbappe, largely quiet in the first half, scored to make it 4-1 — and in doing so, moved past Lionel Messi as the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, his tally reaching twenty-two goals. Barcola added another, then Mbappe struck again. France were hunting an equalizer, and England's goalkeeper Dean Henderson was under sustained pressure.
The match turned definitively when a penalty was awarded against France. Saka stepped up and converted, completing his hat-trick and restoring a two-goal cushion. Dembele pulled one back to make it 5-4, but Bellingham — introduced as a substitute — drove forward and finished with an individual effort that sealed a 6-4 victory, making him the first England player ever to score seven goals at a single World Cup.
England claimed their best World Cup finish since 1966, leaving Miami with bronze and a record-breaking performance from Saka. France, despite Mbappe's historic milestone, departed without a medal. Deschamps, the architect of France's 2018 triumph, closed his long tenure in disappointment. Ahead lies Sunday's final in East Rutherford, where Argentina face Spain — defending champions against European champions — with England watching from a distance, consoled at least by the knowledge that they finished ahead of one of football's great nations.
The heat in Miami was oppressive on Saturday, the kind that makes every movement feel heavier than it should. England and France took the field for the World Cup's third-place playoff, both teams nursing the sting of semifinal defeats—Spain had dismantled France 2-0, while Argentina had broken England's heart with a late collapse. What unfolded over the next ninety minutes was less a measured contest for bronze and more a chaotic, goal-soaked affair that would reshape the tournament's record books.
Thomas Tuchel made the bold choice to bench Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, while Didier Deschamps, preparing for his final match after fourteen years in charge, left Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele on the sideline. England came out with purpose. Declan Rice struck from distance in the third minute, and within minutes Ezri Konsa headed in a second. The scoreline climbed to 3-0 when Bukayo Saka broke free on a swift counterattack. By halftime, Saka had added another, and England led 4-0. Deschamps sat in the technical area watching what he would later call a "catastrophic" first-half performance, knowing something had to change.
He changed everything. Four substitutions at the break—Dembele, Upamecano, Digne, and Barcola all entered the pitch. The effect was immediate. Mbappe, who had been largely contained in the first half, scored to make it 4-1 and, in doing so, moved past Lionel Messi as the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. His tally now stood at twenty-two goals across all tournaments. Barcola added another, then Mbappe struck again, this time from a pass by Michael Olise. The game had transformed entirely. France was hunting an equalizer, and England's second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson was being tested repeatedly.
The match swung back toward England when Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence in the penalty area. Saka stepped forward and converted, completing his hat-trick and extending England's lead to 5-3. There was still drama to come. Dembele scored to pull France within one, but Jude Bellingham, who had entered as a substitute, drove forward with purpose and finished with an individual effort that made it 6-4. In that moment, Bellingham became the first England player ever to score seven goals at a World Cup.
When the final whistle sounded, England had secured their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966. France, despite Mbappe's historic achievement, would go home empty-handed. Deschamps, the architect of France's 2018 World Cup triumph and runner-up finish in 2022, was departing on a note of disappointment. Meanwhile, Argentina and Spain would meet in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the defending champions seeking back-to-back titles against the European champions. England had salvaged something from their tournament—a medal, a record-breaking performance from Saka, and the knowledge that they had at least finished ahead of one of the world's great football nations.
Citations marquantes
The first-half display had been catastrophic, and his team needed to show pride— Didier Deschamps, France coach, to M6 television at halftime
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