England claim third place at Fifa World Cup in 10-goal thriller against France
A hat-trick from Bukayo Saka has helped England secure their best World Cup finish since 1966 after surviving a remarkable second-half comeback from France to win 6-4 in the third-place play-off in Miami.
England were completely dominant before halftime scoring four goals, with France looking as though they were already on holiday, but the French produced a vastly improved display after the break where they reduced the margin to one and chances to even level the match, before goals to Saka and Jude Bellingham with the final kick off the game sealed the win.
It ended up being the highest scoring bronze medal match in World Cup history and while the result gives England a consolation bronze medal, there will still be a sense of what might have been after they squandered a second-half lead against Argentina in Thursday’s semi-final. After taking the lead, England retreated into their shell instead of pressing for a decisive second goal, a tactical shift that ultimately proved costly.
“It was a crazy game,” Saka said on TVNZ. “We’re both still quite disappointed to not be in the final, but it was about finishing strong and for us, giving the country the best position in the World Cup they’ve finished for around 60 years.
“I think the first half won it for us. We won the first half, they won the second half and obviously in the end we got the two goals to win the game.”
For France, the match created some unwanted history. It was the first time they had conceded more than three first half goals ever at the World Cup.
Although for captain Killian Mbappe, he scored a brace to take him to 10 goals for the tournament and looks likely to win the coveted Golden Boot prize, while he again stands atop the all-time World Cup goal scoring list with 22.
Both sides made seven changes to their starting sides, and it was the Three Lions who were on the front foot to start the match with captain Declan Rice scoring the opening goal inside three minutes, before he assisted Ezri Konsa for their second.
Two goals for Saka before the break put England 4-0 up at halftime and they appeared to be cruising to a commutable win.
But Didier Deschamps made four substitutions at halftime and they all made an immediate impact as Mbappe netted either side of a Bradley Barcola goal to reduce the deficit to one.
France had multiple opportunities to level the contest in the final 10 minutes, with Michael Olise missing the best of them from a few yards out and England keeper Dean Henderson out of position.
But just as it appeared France would draw level, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled by Malo Gusto.
Ousmane Dembele curled home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to set up a thrilling finish, but Bellingham got the ball on a break and scored with the final kick of the game to break the record for most goals by an England player at a World Cup.
It means England achieve their highest men’s World Cup finish since winning the tournament 60 years ago and their best-ever result on foreign soil.
All eyes now turn to New Jersey on Monday morning for the final between Spain and defending champions Argentina, which kicks off at 7am.
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