England secures third place at World Cup after 6-4 victory over France
England claims bronze medal in high-scoring match
England secured third place at the 2026 World Cup, achieving their best finish in the tournament since 1966, after a remarkable 6-4 victory over France in Miami. The match, described as a 10-goal thriller, saw Bukayo Saka net a hat-trick for England. Other goals for England came from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Jude Bellingham. France‘s goals were scored by Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele.
The England squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, took a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time. Declan Rice opened the scoring, followed by Ezri Konsa‘s header, and a double from Bukayo Saka. However, France mounted a strong comeback in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding another, bringing the score to 4-3. Mbappe‘s goals also saw him become the World Cup‘s all-time leading scorer.
Despite France‘s resurgence, England managed to hold on. Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled. Ousmane Dembele scored for France in the 96th minute, but Jude Bellingham sealed the victory for England with the 10th goal of the game two minutes later.
Tuchel addresses performance and fan sentiment
England manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the team’s performance, stating it was England‘s biggest success in 60 years. He acknowledged the criticism following the semi-final loss to Argentina, noting that his name was booed by fans before the match against France. However, he expressed hope that the bronze medal win would give the players pride, especially as it represents the best World Cup finish on foreign soil for England.
Tuchel also addressed the decision to omit Bukayo Saka from the starting lineup against Argentina, explaining he had a feeling that Morgan Rogers would be involved in something special in that game. He praised Saka‘s performance against France, stating his key player status was never in doubt. Saka himself expressed a desire to have played more in the tournament but affirmed his fitness and focus on moving forward.
The manager highlighted the team’s resilience and mentality, particularly given the physical demands of the tournament, including playing in heat and at altitude. He noted the team’s tiredness from the previous weeks but commended their ability to fight through adversity. Tuchel also mentioned the intention for him to remain in charge for Euro 2028, despite the ongoing review of the tournament.
Player contributions and future outlook
Several players were highlighted for their contributions throughout the tournament. Jude Bellingham ended the tournament with seven goals, surpassing Harry Kane, who had six. Djed Spence received an honourable mention for his defensive efforts, including a goal-saving challenge against Argentina. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka each provided three assists.
The victory against France saw Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah, both from Chelsea, feature as substitutes for England. Malo Gusto started for France, while N’Golo Kante was an unused substitute for France. James was introduced in the 83rd minute, and Chalobah entered in added time, ensuring all three current Chelsea players participated in the closing stages of the match.
While the third-place finish is England‘s best since 1966, some fans and pundits view the tournament as a missed opportunity, particularly given the manner of their semi-final defeat to Argentina. The team’s next challenge will be against Spain in the Nations League.
The match itself was a high-scoring affair, with England scoring six goals and France four. The England goals came in the 3rd, 18th, 37th, 45+2, 87th, and 90+8 minutes, while France scored in the 48th, 54th, 66th, and 90+6 minutes.
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Source: bbc.com
