World Cup Bronze Showdown
Mbappé Leads Rotated France Against England for World Cup Third Place; Deschamps' Final Match
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Key Points
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Spain secured a 2-0 win over France in the semifinal, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty to open the scoring and Pedro Porro adding a second, as France fielded a heavily rotated defense.
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England’s starting XI included Dean Henderson in goal and Marcus Rashford in attack, with Kane and Bellingham among those rested; Morgan Rogers was among the fresh players handed a start.
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France’s lineup featured a heavily rotated back line (Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne rested) while Aurelien Tchouameni, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola were among those starting on the bench; Mbappé led the attack with Konate, Theo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki among the starters.
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France star Kylian Mbappé is highlighted as part of a group of elite players with immigrant roots representing their adopted nations, underscoring broader diversity within the squad.
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The Golden Boot race remains unsettled: Messi and Mbappé are level on eight goals, with Messi ahead on assists; reports note that if Messi does not score in the final, Mbappé would only need one goal to win the Golden Boot and two to claim the all-time World Cup scoring record.
England beat France 6-4 in a wild World Cup third-place playoff in Miami, their highest-scoring World Cup game in over 40 years. Whittier Daily News reported Bukayo Saka scored three goals, including a penalty, to power England to bronze. Both sides had been knocked out in the semifinals — France by Spain and England by Argentina.
The match was also the last for France coach Didier Deschamps, who is ending a 14-year reign after the tournament. Kylian Mbappé led France's attack, chasing the Golden Boot and a historic scoring record, while England rested stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
Saka Hat-Trick Powers England to 6-4 Thriller
England came out fast and never really let go. Bukayo Saka's hat-trick was the standout moment in a game that ended 6-4 — a scoreline that looked more like a basketball game than football. Whittier Daily News noted it was England's highest-scoring World Cup match since Hungary beat El Salvador in 1982.
England manager Gareth Southgate shuffled his lineup heavily. Dean Henderson started in goal instead of the first-choice keeper. Marcus Rashford started up front. Morgan Rogers was among the fresh faces handed a rare start. Kane and Bellingham, England's top scorers with six goals each, watched from the bench.
Mbappé Starts as Deschamps Bows Out After 14 Years
France also rotated heavily. Mbappé led the line, but several key players started on the bench. WRAL reported Aurelien Tchouameni, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola were among those left out of the starting XI. The back line was also reshuffled, with Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, and Digne all rested.
It was a bittersweet occasion for Deschamps. He has managed France since 2012 and led them to the 2018 World Cup title. This third-place match in Miami marked his final game in charge. France's starting lineup included Rayan Cherki, Theo Hernandez, and Ibrahima Konaté among those given chances.
Golden Boot Race Goes Down to the Wire
Before the match, Mbappé and Lionel Messi were tied on eight goals each at the top of the scoring charts. Yahoo Sports reported Messi was ahead on assists, which serves as a tiebreaker. Mbappé won the Golden Boot four years ago and was hunting a second one in Miami.
The stakes were even higher than just a trophy. Newsday noted that if Messi did not score in Argentina's final, Mbappé needed just two goals in this match to break the all-time World Cup scoring record. Kane and Bellingham each had six goals but did not start, leaving their chances slim.
France's Semifinal Exit Set the Stage for Rotation
France fell 2-0 to Spain in the semifinal. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty to open the scoring. Pedro Porro added a second. France's defense was already rotated in that game, and the same approach carried into the third-place match. Spain's sharp attack exposed gaps that a full-strength French side might have closed.
WRAL highlighted that Mbappé represents a broader story too — one of elite players with immigrant roots competing for adopted nations. His presence in the starting XI, even in a third-place game, underlined his importance to France regardless of lineup changes around him. For Deschamps, it was a fitting final chapter, even if it ended in defeat.
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