England defeated France in a high-scoring third-place playoff match, securing the bronze medal. The game concluded with a 6-4 scoreline in England’s favor. This achievement marks England’s best World Cup finish since their victory in 1966.
The match saw Kylian Mbappé of France score two goals, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi in all-time World Cup scoring. Mbappé’s goals also brought his tournament total to 10, placing him in the lead for the Golden Boot race. Michael Olise contributed two assists, surpassing Pelé’s record for most assists in a single World Cup, a record that had stood since 1970.
Match Highlights and Records
England established a 4-0 lead by halftime. In the second half, Mbappé scored his 21st and 22nd World Cup goals. Bukayo Saka completed a hat-trick with a late penalty, and Jude Bellingham scored England’s sixth goal.
The game was noted for its dramatic nature, with both teams displaying strong attacking play. It became the sixth match in men’s World Cup history to feature 10 or more goals, and the highest-scoring game since 1982. Previous high-scoring matches include Austria 7-5 Switzerland in 1954 and Hungary 10-1 El Salvador in 1982.
This result also marked a rare victory for England against a higher-ranked opponent in the World Cup since FIFA’s world rankings were introduced in 1992. The only other instance was a group-stage win against Argentina in 2002.
Coaches Reflect on Performance
England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the team’s performance and fan trust following their semi-final defeat. He stated that while the semi-final loss was painful, he believes the team built more during this World Cup than they lost in the final minutes of that match. Tuchel emphasized the need to regain trust daily in international football, noting that the team will be back together for the Nations League in seven or eight weeks.
Tuchel also expressed pride in securing England’s first medal since 1966 and their best World Cup result on foreign soil. He acknowledged the pain of missing out on the final but highlighted the importance of reacting on the pitch to criticism. The bronze medal provided a positive conclusion to the tournament for Tuchel and the players, overshadowing any prior boos.
France’s manager, Deschamps, reflected on his 14-year tenure, stating that he did not want this game to define his career. He acknowledged the team’s disappointment after the semi-finals but spoke of the emotions created and shared with the French people. Deschamps also wished the next France manager well, emphasizing the team’s potential and talent to remain at a high level and win new titles.
Goalkeeping and Future Outlook
The match also saw a change in England’s goalkeeping, with Dean Henderson starting in goal. This was England’s first major tournament game without Jordan Pickford starting in 10 years, ending Pickford’s streak of 33 consecutive major-tournament starts. Henderson made several saves in the first half before conceding four goals in the second.
Looking ahead to the Euro 2028 tournament, Pickford will be 34, Henderson will be 31, and James Trafford, another goalkeeper in the current World Cup squad, will be 25. The World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium.
Kylian Mbappé, at 27 years old, has now surpassed Lionel Messi in all-time World Cup goals, with his 22nd goal in the third-place game against England.
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Source: nytimes.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.