Third place is coming home — though England nearly let it all slip away.
In a stunning start to the World Cup third-place match, the Three Lions took a 4-0 lead after an incredible first half. But France didn’t quit, scoring three goals early in the second half to keep the game alive.
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A hat trick from Bukayo Saka and late goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham added to the madness, ending with a 6-4 England win. It was the most goals scored in a World Cup match since 1982.
This was not the result anyone was expecting from this match, with both teams seeming pretty low energy after the disappointment of the semifinals. England’s lineup in particular seemed to indicate that the team wasn’t playing for a win: Neither captain Harry Kane nor star midfielder Jude Bellingham got the start, and starting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was replaced by Dean Henderson.
But Declan Rice, sporting the captain’s armband, only needed two-and-a-half minutes to prove that wrong, scoring the first goal of the game soon after the opening whistle.
A header from Ezri Konsa in the 18th minutes doubled that lead, before Saka added two more goals before the end of the half as England completely dismantled the French defense.
But the game was a different story in the second half, as France emerged from the break with renewed energy. Minutes into the second half, Mbappé broke through for his first, before Bradley Barcola found the back of the net in the 54th minute to cut the deficit in half. Barcola, though, didn’t celebrate, seemingly understanding the work France still needed to do.
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In the 66th minute, Mbappé scored again, officially becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer and breaking a tie with him and Lionel Messi. The goal was Mbappé’s 10th of the tournament, which leads the Golden Boot race.
Michael Olise, with an assist on both of Mbappé’s goals, also passed Pelé for the all-time World Cup assist record with seven.
France continued to knock on the door, but a penalty drawn in the 87th minute gave England the chance to comfortably pull to a larger lead. Saka took the penalty, and buried into the right side of the goal, securing a hat trick in a high-stakes moment.
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Les Bleus weren’t done yet, though, as Ousmane Dembélé hit a great finish in stoppage time to bring France back within one. But in the final minutes of the game, Bellingham scored a beauty to ice the 6-4 win for England.
Ten goals. Absolute madness. And in the end, England came out on top, earning the bronze medal for the country’s best finish since winning the championship in 1966.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
England takes third place after an astonishing 6-4 win over France.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick, Ezri Konsa and Declan Rice struck early, and Jude Bellingham sealed it with the final goal in stoppage time. Kylian Mbappé scored twice to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, while Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola also found the net, but France’s comeback fell short. England is heading home with the bronze.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Jude Bellingham delivers in what should be the final minute of stoppage time. England wins the ball and springs him through the middle, where he takes on the last defender, cuts back into the box and fires past Maignan to seal third place.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Dembélé adds another with just minutes left in regular time. Will France find another to send the game to extra time?
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
A pair of late changes: Jules Koundé replaces Malo Gusto for France, while Chalobah comes on for Guehi for the final few minutes.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kari Anderson
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Kari Anderson
After initially indicating that Jude Bellingham would take the penalty, Bukayo Saka steps up to take it instead, and buries the ball past Maignan into the right side netting.
England is now up 5-3, with a slightly more comfortable lead — though France is still in it.
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Kari Anderson
This might be a game-changer: Djed Spence draws a foul from Malo Gusto in the box, giving England a chance to grow their lead.
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Kari Anderson
The referee appears to be getting his legs worked on for a possible cramp, before England’s Jarell Quansah goes down with a cramp of his own. Quansah is subbed out for Reece James.
It currently feels like 98 degrees in Miami.
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Kari Anderson
Moments after Jude Bellingham subs into the game, he nearly pulls England back out of France’s reach with a great chance, but it’s saved.
On the other end, Michael Olise nearly equalizes, but it goes wide right. Things are staying exciting!
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Kari Anderson
France got so close to equalizing, as Michael Olise gets a tap off a great ball from Malo Gusto, but it goes just wide.
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Kari Anderson
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Kari Anderson
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Kari Anderson
Kylian Mbappé scores his second of the game as Les Bleus continue a hot start to the second half. France is back within one!
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Kari Anderson
France continues knocking on the door, with Ousmane Dembélé and Dayot Upamecano getting back-to-back chances that are saved by Dean Henderson. That two-goal margin is feeling narrower by the minute.
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Kari Anderson
A great save from Mike Maignan, who denies Ivan Toney’s header off a corner kick to keep England from adding another goal.
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Kari Anderson
Immediately after scoring his goal, Bradley Barcola did not celebrate, but picked up the ball to bring it back to center field. The French know that they still have a lot of work to do in this second half.
