France 4 – England 6 England secures third place after intense victory over France

(Miami) The French national team was unable to give Didier Deschamps a fitting send-off in his final match, as Les Bleus fell to England with a 6-4 defeat in a thrilling World Cup ‘petite finale’ on Saturday. This utterly chaotic encounter was highlighted by a stunning brace from Kylian Mbappé, who now stands alone as the record holder for most goals in World Cup history.

This outcome proved harsh for the outgoing manager of Les Bleus, who had urged his squad not to undervalue their final fixture despite the absence of a major trophy at stake. It somewhat tarnishes an otherwise impressive World Cup campaign, despite their semi-final exit, and fails to fully honor Deschamps’ significant contributions to the French national team since 2012.

The veteran coach will long remember his tumultuous farewell at Hard Rock Stadium, where both teams combined for no fewer than 10 goals in a match that unfolded with an unbelievable script. “This is the end of something that represented the most beautiful,” the coach stated after the game, vowing to become a “silent supporter” of Les Bleus.

Deschamps, who had hoped to conclude his 14 successful years at the helm of the French squad on a high note, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. He came perilously close to humiliation after a nightmarish first half, before a late and ultimately futile resurgence from his players, spearheaded by captain Mbappé.

Clearly still reeling from their 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain on Tuesday, the Tricolores were overwhelmed by England’s onslaught in the first half, conceding four goals. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, followed by Ezri Konsa in the 18th, and a brace from Bukayo Saka in the 37th and 45th+1 minute. They effortlessly breached a lethargic and outmatched French defense, leading Deschamps to label it an “unpresentable first half.”

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot, known for his outspoken nature, criticized the first half as “shameful.” “We cannot simply botch things like this,” the AC Milan player lamented.

The French backline was in disarray, prompting Deschamps to make four substitutions at halftime. The introduction of forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola, alongside defenders Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne, instantly revitalized Les Bleus. They began to narrow the deficit with goals from Mbappé (48th, 66th) and Barcola (54th), setting the stage for a truly surreal second half.

A futile comeback

Ultimately, this spirited comeback proved insufficient. The French players couldn’t deliver a victory worthy of their coach’s final game. Saka completed his hat-trick from a penalty in the 87th minute, and Jude Bellingham’s goal in injury time extinguished France’s remaining hopes, coming just after Ousmane Dembélé had scored for France in the 90th+6 minute.

While the outcome was disappointing for Deschamps, France’s attackers, who had struggled against La Roja in the semi-final, at least rediscovered, for 45 minutes, the spectacular play that had captivated the world earlier in the tournament.

Even without securing a second World Cup title after their 2018 triumph, Mbappé departs the competition with his head held high. With 22 goals across three final phases, he now holds the sole record for World Cup goals and leads the 2026 edition’s scoring charts with 10.

“I would have preferred to put the record aside and have the chance to participate in the final,” Mbappé commented.

The French captain felt Les Bleus were “completely stunned” by England’s opening 45 minutes.

Nevertheless, Mbappé has put considerable pressure on his direct rival, Lionel Messi, who will have every opportunity to respond to the Frenchman in the final against Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The captain remained exemplary throughout his time in the United States, living up to his star status. Already the Golden Boot winner in 2022 in Qatar, the Real Madrid forward is well-positioned to retain his title, barring an astonishing performance from the Argentine star in the final.

Deschamps cannot say the same for the other French players, who seemed largely disengaged from the match for long periods, particularly the defenders. But how can one fault players who came to this World Cup aiming for a third star, only to be heartbroken by their semi-final defeat and then forced to contend for an inconsequential bronze medal?

For England and their German coach Thomas Tuchel, who faced intense criticism after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Argentina, the result offers a small, albeit very small, consolation. “We dreamed of the most glorious success and were filled with ambition. Under these circumstances, it becomes very painful not to sweep everything,” Tuchel conceded.

Nevertheless, England has achieved its best World Cup result since their sole title victory in 1966.