England claimed third place at the World Cup after a thrilling 6-4 win against France in Miami. The match saw Bukayo Saka score a hat-trick, contributing to England‘s best World Cup finish since 1966. The game, described by some as one of the most exciting for an England team, featured a total of 10 goals.
The encounter began with a strong showing from England, who established a 4-0 lead by halftime. Declan Rice opened the scoring, followed by a header from Ezri Konsa. Saka then added two goals before the break, taking advantage of a seemingly disengaged France team. This dominant first half set the stage for a dramatic second period.
Dramatic Second Half Unfolds
Despite England‘s substantial lead, France mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. Kylian Mbappé, who was pursuing his second consecutive Golden Boot, initiated the resurgence shortly after halftime. He scored his first goal after Ollie Watkins lost possession, allowing Michael Olise to provide a through ball. Bradley Barcola then added another goal for France, making the score 4-2.
Mbappé scored his second goal after exchanging passes with Olise on the edge of England‘s area, further narrowing the deficit. This marked a significant moment for Mbappé, as he became the first male player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures at a World Cup. His two goals in this match also made him the World Cup‘s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.
The momentum shifted considerably, and France had opportunities to equalize. Olise missed two chances to level the score. However, England managed to regain control. Djed Spence earned a late penalty after a challenge from Malo Gusto, which Saka converted in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick.
Late Goals Seal England’s Victory
The drama continued into added time. Substitute Ousmane Dembélé scored in the 96th minute, giving France a glimmer of hope. However, just two minutes later, England substitute Jude Bellingham scored the 10th goal of the game. This goal was Bellingham‘s seventh of the tournament, setting a new record for the most goals by an England player at a World Cup.
The match was Didier Deschamps‘ final game in charge of France after 14 years at the helm. Mbappé had expressed his gratitude to Deschamps on social media before the match, acknowledging his role in guiding France to a second world title in 2018. France had aimed to send Deschamps off with a victory.
For England, the victory provided a memorable end to their campaign, despite the lingering disappointment of their semi-final loss to Argentina. Thomas Tuchel, England‘s manager, had promised a reaction from his team, and they delivered with a high-scoring performance. Tuchel had signed a contract extension before the tournament and has indicated his desire to lead England into Euro 2028 on home soil.
The pre-match atmosphere for Tuchel was tense, with some supporters booing his name after his comments regarding the semi-final decisions. However, the team’s effort over the past five weeks, culminating in the bronze medals, appeared to be appreciated by the fans. The performance of Saka and Marcus Rashford in this match, particularly after Saka was an unused substitute in the semi-final, led to discussions about Tuchel‘s tactical choices in previous games.
Both Tuchel and Deschamps made significant changes to their starting lineups from the semi-finals, with Tuchel making seven alterations. Notably, Declan Rice was surprisingly named captain despite carrying an injury throughout the tournament. Arsenal, Saka‘s club, may have had concerns about his inclusion given their worries over William Saliba‘s back injury. Kobbie Mainoo, a Manchester United midfielder, was absent from the bench due to injury, while Jordan Henderson was among the substitutes despite a broken arm.
The match showcased several key moments, including Rice‘s early goal after Desiré Doué‘s loose pass, and Saka having a goal disallowed for offside. Marcus Rashford also had a powerful shot saved by Mike Maignan. Dean Henderson made a crucial save against Mbappé, which then initiated the move for England‘s third goal. Eberechi Eze provided a brilliant pass for Saka‘s second goal just before halftime. The final score was 6-4 in favor of England.
Source: theguardian.com
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