Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England defeated France 6-4 in a wild World Cup third-place playoff, securing third place for the first time in their history. The match, played under leaden skies in Miami, saw England race to a 4-0 lead before France mounted a comeback, only for Saka's late penalty and a goal from Jude Bellingham to seal the victory.
England's dominant first half
England took control early, with Declan Rice scoring in the third minute after seizing on a loose pass from Désiré Doué. Ezri Konsa added a second, heading in Rice's corner, and Bukayo Saka scored twice before half-time, the first after a comical sequence involving Marcus Rashford and the second from a brilliant pass by Eberechi Eze. France looked stunned, with Kylian Mbappé trying to laugh it off.
France's second-half comeback
France manager Didier Deschamps made four changes at half-time, bringing on Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. The response was immediate: Mbappé finished a through ball from Michael Olise to make it 4-1, and Barcola soon made it 4-2 after sprinting back to halfway with the ball tucked under his arm. Mbappé added his second after exchanging passes with Olise, and suddenly England were wobbling.
Saka and Bellingham seal the win
Despite France's pressure, Michael Olise missed a chance to force extra time. Bellingham, who had come off the bench, scored England's sixth goal, and Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Dembélé pulled another goal back for France, but England held on for a memorable 6-4 victory. Mbappé's two goals made him the first male player to reach double figures at a World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970.
Tuchel's future and player reactions
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who signed a contract extension before the tournament, faced boos from some supporters before the match but was praised for the team's effort. Harry Kane and the rest of the squad received bronze medals, with the players' efforts over the past five weeks fully appreciated. Tuchel made seven changes from the semi-final loss to Argentina, with Rice named captain despite carrying an injury.
Mbappé, playing in Deschamps' last match in charge of France, had extra motivation to send his manager off with a win. He published a message on social media thanking Deschamps for his 14-year tenure. The match was described as a rollercoaster and is likely to be remembered as the game of the tournament.
