England secured a remarkable 6-4 victory over France to clinch third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Miami Stadium in the United States. This win marks England's best performance in the tournament since their triumph in 1966.

Dominant First Half

The match began with an explosive start for the Three Lions, as Declan Rice scored within just three minutes. Capitalizing on a misplaced pass from Desire Doue, Rice charged into the France penalty area and delivered a powerful right-footed shot into the net. This goal was England's earliest in a competitive match since Luke Shaw's strike in the UEFA EURO 2020 final against Italy.

England continued to assert their dominance, doubling their lead in the 18th minute through Ezri Konsa. The defender headed home from a cross, leaving French goalkeeper Mike Maignan helpless as the ball found the net. A lightning-fast counterattack in the 37th minute saw Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka involved, with Saka eventually scoring after a second chance presented itself. Just before half-time, Saka netted again, completing his brace with a composed finish following a perfectly weighted pass from Eberechi Eze. By the end of the first half, England had established a commanding 4-0 lead, marking the first time France had conceded four goals in the opening half since April 1968.

France's Fightback

After the break, France showed resilience, with Kylian Mbappé scoring in the 48th minute to give Les Bleus a glimmer of hope. The momentum shifted further when substitute Bradley Barcola struck in the 54th minute, reducing England's lead to two goals. France continued to press, and in the 66th minute, Mbappé scored again, executing a well-crafted move with Michael Olise that brought the score to 4-3. This goal not only moved Mbappé ahead of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot but also placed him one goal ahead of the Argentine on the tournament's all-time scoring list.

Despite France's resurgence, Saka completed his hat-trick by converting a penalty in the 87th minute after a foul on Spence by Gusto. However, the match was not over, as Ousmane Dembélé found the net for France shortly after, ensuring a thrilling finish. Ultimately, England's offensive prowess proved decisive, allowing them to secure a historic victory and finish third in the tournament.