England's stunning first-half dominance
The third-place World Cup match between England and France got off to an absolutely wild start, with four goals coming in the first half alone. England looked energized and sharp, and their first goal came just three minutes in. Declan Rice pounced after Désiré Doué failed to control a simple pass in his own half. Rice’s quick thinking and accurate finish left France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan stranded. The early lead seemed to give England confidence, and they continued to push forward with purpose. Bukayo Saka was at the heart of the action, notching two goals in the first half. His second strike was particularly impressive, coming from a perfectly timed cross by Morgan Rogers just before the break. By halftime, England had taken full control of the game and built a commanding 4-1 lead. Kylian Mbappé did score a consolation goal in the final moments of the half, but it wasn’t enough to slow the momentum of the English team.
France's furious second-half charge
France entered the second half with a sense of urgency and made a few key changes to try and turn the tide. The decision paid off almost immediately. Mbappé, the star forward, scored his second goal of the match, capitalizing on a through ball from Andreas Olise. Just minutes later, substitute Bradley Barcola added a second goal, putting France back in the game at 4-3. Mbappé’s second goal, coming from a clever interchange with Olise, further tightened the score and put England on the back foot. The intensity in the stadium had shifted, with England’s supporters clearly worried about their team’s ability to hold on. Tuchel, England’s manager, looked visibly concerned as his side faced a rapid French comeback.
Saka seals it, Mbappé hits 10 World Cup goals
Just when it looked like France could potentially tie the match, England’s Bukayo Saka stepped up to seal the victory. A crucial penalty in the final moments completed Saka’s hat-trick, making the final score 6-4 in favor of England. This win marked the nation’s first third-place finish since 1990. Mbappé, the man of the match, reached an incredible milestone by scoring 10 goals in the tournament. He is now the first male player to achieve double figures at a World Cup since Gerd Müller did it in 1970. The game was a rollercoaster for both teams. For England, it was a chance to finish their campaign on a high note after a disappointing semi-final loss to Argentina. The bronze medal ceremony at the end highlighted the emotional highs and lows of the tournament, which lasted nearly five weeks for England.
One of the more unusual aspects of the match was the choice of Declan Rice as England’s captain, especially since he had been nursing an injury throughout the tournament. Some of England’s other star players were also absent from the bench. Notably, Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United didn’t make an appearance, with the Football Association citing an injury. Meanwhile, France’s Didier Deschamps, who is ending his 14-year tenure as head coach, received a touching send-off. Kylian Mbappé took to social media to honor Deschamps, writing, 'Today is your last dance,' in tribute to the man who led France to their second World Cup title in 2018 and came close to a repeat in 2022.
The emotional arc of the tournament was on full display in this match. England had faced heavy criticism following their semi-final loss to Argentina, but their victory over France may offer some redemption. On the other side, France had already been eliminated after losing to Argentina, and their World Cup journey officially came to an end with a 4-6 loss. Despite the disappointment, both teams showed the passion and resilience expected at the highest level of international football. England’s win in this third-place match not only gave them a memorable moment but also allowed their players and supporters to leave the tournament with a sense of accomplishment and pride.