England beats France in instant classic to earn third place at 2026 FIFA World Cup

It's nan crippled that nary 1 ever wants to play in, but location was still a batch connected nan statement for some England and France successful nan third-place lucifer astatine nan 2026 FIFA World Cup connected Saturday.

Both teams deed nan transportation astatine Miami Stadium (also known arsenic Hard Rock Stadium) aft immoderate reliable semifinal losses: France to Spain, and England to reigning champs Argentina.

France was looking for redemption aft coming up short successful a tourney wherever they were wide viewed to beryllium nan favorite. Plus, this lucifer presented an opportunity for French prima Kylian Mbappe to overtake Argentina's Lionel Messi successful nan Golden Boot race.

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England's Bukayo Saka scores during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Medal Match. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

However, they were up against an England squad that had played good passim nan tourney and was 2-1 against them successful World Cup matches. Their 2 astir offensively potent players this tournament, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, some started nan lucifer connected nan bench.

Well, successful nan early going, it turns retired that England had capable violative firepower to get things started.

In conscionable nan 3rd minute, Declan Rice deed paydirt to unfastened nan scoring.

Only astir 10 minutes later, England put different 1 successful nan backmost of nan net; however, it was deemed to person been offside.

But moreover pinch nan large guns sitting connected nan bench, England was easy nan much offensively productive squad early, pinch Ezri Konsa adding different disconnected of a area successful nan 18th minute.

But why not make it three?

In nan 37th minute, Bukayo Saka scored a extremity that was surely not really nan Three Lions would've drawn it up, but it counts conscionable nan same.

And while you're astatine it, Mr. Saka, conscionable tack connected different for bully measure.

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England took a 4-0 lead into halftime aft 1 of nan astir lopsided first halves of nan tournament, and fewer expected France to beryllium connected nan receiving end, particularly pinch Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham still connected nan bench.

And, honestly, it could've been worse.

France bounced backmost from a nightmare first half, and prima Kylian Mbappe scored a brace to return nan lead successful nan Golden Boot title and make history. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Fortunately for France, they did precisely what they needed to and came retired firing successful nan 2nd half. Mbappe sewage them connected nan committee successful nan 48th minute, and put himself up of Messi successful nan Golden Boot race, and moreover pinch him successful profession World Cup goals astatine 21.

Then, conscionable minutes later, France's Bradley Barcola added different to make it a 4-2 game.

So, while nan first half was each England, nan 2nd was each astir France, and successful nan 66th minute, Mbappe made it 4-3, while besides extending his Golden Boot lead and taking complete nan apical spot connected nan all-time World Cup goals list.

What. A. Match.

Who cares astir 3rd place, right?

England's Jude Bellingham and Reece James observe Bukayo Saka's (center) 3rd extremity of nan Bronze Final lucifer successful Miami. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

But aft getting respective opportunities to necktie it up, England was awarded a punishment kick, and that went to Bukayo Saka, who buried it for nan chapeau instrumentality and to springiness England a small breathing room precocious successful nan match.

It's difficult to judge he didn't play a azygous infinitesimal successful nan semifinal nonaccomplishment to Argentina, right?

And that breathing room was important, because France wasn't going to spell quietly.

But England answered backmost instantly pinch a beauty from Jude Bellingham, his seventh of nan tournament, and that was each she wrote.

Unbelievable.

That was nan astir goals scored successful a World Cup third-place match ever, topping nan 1 successful 1958 betwixt France and West Germany.

With that win, England whitethorn person travel up short erstwhile it comes to bringing a World Cup title backmost home, but that was their champion decorativeness successful a World Cup since they won it successful 1966.

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It was an unthinkable match, and now there's only 1 near and its for nan World Cup title.

Spain and Argentina will meet connected Sunday day astatine New York-New Jersey Stadium, pinch nan lucifer scheduled to commencement astatine 3 p.m. ET.