England beat France 6-4 to secure third place at the World Cup for the first time, with manager Thomas Tuchel calling it a very emotional and special day for his squad.
Key facts
- England beat France 6-4 to claim third place at the World Cup for the first time.
- England led 4-0 at half-time through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and two goals from Bukayo Saka.
- Didier Deschamps oversaw his final France game after 14 years in charge.
- Kylian Mbappé scored to reach 10 goals at the tournament and 22 at World Cups overall.
- Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday's final.
Thomas Tuchel has said England’s players can be proud of their efforts after a thrilling 6-4 victory over France sealed third place at the World Cup for the first time, according to the Guardian. The England manager described it as a ‘very emotional’ day for his squad and said the achievement was ‘something very special’.
England raced into a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time, with stand-in captain Declan Rice on the scoresheet alongside Ezri Konsa and a brace from Bukayo Saka. The dominant first-half display put the match seemingly beyond France before the break.
France responded strongly after the interval as Didier Deschamps, taking charge of his final match after 14 years in charge, rang the changes. The substitutions helped pull France back to within a single goal, setting up a tense finish before England held on for the 6-4 win.
Kylian Mbappé was among the France scorers, taking his tally at this tournament to 10 goals and 22 at World Cups in total. The forward is pushing to win a second successive Golden Boot and has surpassed Lionel Messi’s all-time record.
Messi and Argentina will have a chance to overhaul Mbappé’s mark in Sunday’s final against Spain. For England, the bronze medal represents a milestone, though Tuchel offered a measured assessment, saying: ‘This will help – but you never fully celebrate bronze.’
Why it matters
Third place is a new milestone for England at the World Cup, marking progress under manager Thomas Tuchel. The high-scoring result also kept alive one of the tournament's key storylines: the race for the Golden Boot between Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday's final.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in England's World Cup third-place match?
England beat France 6-4 to claim third place at the World Cup for the first time.
Who scored for England?
Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka scored, with Saka netting twice as England led 4-0 at half-time.
Who plays in the World Cup final?
Spain will face Argentina in Sunday's final, where Lionel Messi has a chance to overhaul Kylian Mbappé's Golden Boot lead.