England Beat France 6-4 to Win Bronze in Historic World Cup Third-Place Playoff
England defeated France 6-4 in the World Cup bronze final at Miami Stadium, producing the highest-scoring third-place match in tournament history.
England produced a dramatic 6-4 win over France in the World Cup third-place match on Saturday night at Miami Stadium. The ten-goal game stands out as the highest-scoring third-place playoff in World Cup history, with England taking control early and then holding off a late France surge.
Four-goal start sets the tone for England
England’s performance began with a fast strike inside the first three minutes. They then scored again in the 18th, 37th and 45th minutes to reach halftime with a 4-0 lead. The match also included changes to England’s lineup, with captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon kept on the bench.
Led by Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze and Ivan Toney, England added pressure from the start. Saka finished the night with a hat-trick, as England repeatedly found ways through a French defence that had conceded only twice in the tournament before the semi-finals.
France fight back, but England find another late goal
France responded after the break with four changes at halftime. Goals in the 48th, 54th and 66th minutes brought the score to 4-3 and turned the closing stages into a tense contest. Kylian Mbappé was among the scorers during the fightback, and his goal-making helped maintain the spotlight on the Golden Boot race.
As France pushed for an equaliser, England answered at the 87th minute to restore breathing room. There was also a stoppage-time exchange, with France pulling one goal back before England added a sixth with virtually the last kick of the game, finishing 6-4.
Beyond the scoreline, the statistics reflected an open game. Both teams recorded 18 shots, with England holding 55 percent possession and edging the shots on target 10-9. The match also saw no yellow or red cards.
The result ended Didier Deschamps’ World Cup coaching spell. France’s defeat meant he left after a run that included the 1998 title, and Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed him. England depart North America with bronze medals, while France finish fourth despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites.
