England secures third place at World Cup with 6-4 victory over France
England achieves best World Cup finish in decades
England‘s men’s national team secured their best World Cup finish since their 1966 triumph, claiming third place after a 6-4 victory over France in the bronze final. This result marks their highest placement on foreign soil in the tournament’s history. The match, described as thrilling and at times chaotic, saw England score six goals, a record for them in a World Cup fixture.
The Three Lions, who began the tournament ranked fourth globally, reached the semi-finals for only the third time since 1966. Despite the historic third-place finish, discussions have emerged regarding how the 2026 campaign should be assessed, particularly following a semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The bronze final itself was a high-scoring affair, surpassing the 1958 match between France and West Germany. England‘s win also marked their first victory against a higher-ranked opponent in a World Cup since 2002.
Dramatic bronze final sees multiple goals
The match against France featured 10 goals in total. England established a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time, with goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a double from Bukayo Saka. Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Konsa‘s header from a corner. Saka then added two goals, including one from a follow-up after a sharp breakaway and another from a through-ball by Eberechi Eze.
France, making four half-time changes, mounted a comeback in the second half. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, and Bradley Barcola added another, narrowing the deficit. Mbappe‘s goals also saw him become the World Cup‘s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi.
However, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled. Although Ousmane Dembele scored for France in stoppage time, Jude Bellingham sealed England‘s 6-4 victory with a goal in the 98th minute. Bellingham finished the tournament with seven goals, the most by an Englishman in a single World Cup.
This match was notable for being the highest-scoring World Cup third-place game ever and saw France concede six goals in a World Cup match for the first time. Saka‘s hat-trick made him only the second England player to achieve this feat in a World Cup knockout match, following Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final.
Managerial tactics and future outlook
Despite the third-place finish, questions have been raised regarding manager Thomas Tuchel‘s tactics, particularly after the semi-final loss to Argentina. Reports indicate some in-squad disagreements over his strategy, with certain players perceiving his tactical switches as too defensive. Tuchel was booed by supporters in Miami before the France game, reflecting ongoing fan discontent.
The Football Association has reaffirmed its support for Tuchel, with the intention for him to remain in charge for Euro 2028. An end-of-tournament review is expected to discuss the defeat by Argentina. The manager’s decision to make seven changes for the bronze final, including resting Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham while starting Saka, led to a more attacking display.
Players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham received credit for their performances, with Bellingham ending the tournament with seven goals. Djed Spence also earned an honourable mention for a goal-saving challenge against Argentina. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka each contributed three assists. England will look to integrate emerging talents such as Liverpool‘s Rio Ngumoah and Arsenal‘s Max Dowman as they prepare for Euro 2028.
Didier Deschamps‘ tenure as France manager concluded with this match, his 187th in charge. His team’s performance, particularly in the second half, was noted for its intensity, though they ultimately fell to defeat.
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Source: bbc.com