England secures third place at World Cup 2026 after 6-4 win against France
England achieved their best World Cup finish since 1966, securing third place after a 6-4 victory over France in the bronze final. The match, which featured 10 goals, saw Bukayo Saka score a hat-trick for the Three Lions. This result marks England‘s second-best performance in the tournament’s history.
The bronze final unfolded as a high-scoring encounter, with England taking an early lead. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Ezri Konsa in the 18th minute. Saka then added two goals in the 37th and 46th minutes, giving England a 4-0 lead by half-time. France responded in the second half with goals from Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice, and Bradley Barcola. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Ousmane Dembele scored for France in stoppage time, but Jude Bellingham sealed England‘s victory in the 98th minute with his seventh goal of the tournament.
The match set a new record as the highest-scoring World Cup third-place game, surpassing the 6-3 result between France and West Germany in 1958. England‘s win also marked the first time they defeated a higher-ranked team at a World Cup since 2002.
Squad performance and tactical discussions
The victory followed England‘s semi-final loss to Argentina, a match that generated discussions regarding manager Thomas Tuchel‘s tactical approach. Some players reportedly viewed his substitutions and tactical changes in the semi-final as too defensive. Despite the semi-final disappointment, England‘s performance against France showcased an attacking intent that some fans felt was absent in the previous match.
Saka‘s hat-trick performance, which included a goal disallowed for offside, was a notable highlight. His display led to questions about why he did not feature in the semi-final against Argentina. Tuchel made seven changes for the bronze final, including resting Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, and giving Saka a starting position.
Jude Bellingham finished the tournament with seven goals, making him the highest-scoring England men’s player in a single World Cup. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were acknowledged for their contributions throughout the tournament, having been instrumental in wins against DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway.
Other players who received credit include Djed Spence, whose goal-saving challenge against Argentina was highlighted. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka both ended the tournament with three assists each.
Managerial future and team development
Following the semi-final exit, the Football Association reaffirmed its support for Tuchel, with the intention for him to remain in charge for Euro 2028. However, an end-of-tournament review is expected to discuss the defeat by Argentina. Reports of player discontent regarding perceived defensive tactics and a negative fan reaction towards Tuchel could influence future decisions, particularly after he was booed by supporters in Miami before the France game.
Tuchel‘s challenge is to enhance England‘s potency and resilience, moving away from a one-dimensional approach. The team will face France and Spain in the upcoming Euros. Emerging talents such as Liverpool‘s Rio Ngumoah and Arsenal‘s Max Dowman are expected to be integrated into the squad. The six-goal performance against France, in a game with less pressure, demonstrated the team’s attacking capabilities.
For France, the bronze final marked Didier Deschamps‘ 187th and final match as manager. His tenure, which included leading France to World Cup glory in 2018, concluded with a competitive defeat against England, the first since 1982. Kylian Mbappe‘s two goals in the match made him the World Cup‘s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi. Mbappe also became the first player to score double figures at a men’s World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970. France had not conceded six goals in a World Cup match before this game, and it was the first time they conceded six goals in any match in 66 years.
The next World Cup in 2030 will be held in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
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Source: bbc.com
