Kha Y Tran England beat France 6-4 in an unforgettable FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff. Although the match did not decide the champion, both teams played attacking football from start to finish. As a result, fans witnessed one of the most exciting games of the tournament.
Bukayo Saka led England to victory with a brilliant hat-trick. Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Jude Bellingham also scored. Meanwhile, France fought back through Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé. However, England held on to claim third place.
Watch the match highlights at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SDvow2ioDw
England Make the Perfect Start
Both managers rotated their starting lineups for the final match of the tournament. Even so, neither team lacked energy. England attacked right after kickoff. As a result, they scored in only three minutes.
Declan Rice won the ball in midfield. He drove forward before firing a low shot from outside the box. The ball flew past Mike Maignan and into the corner.
Rice celebrates after scoring a goal.
France tried to answer quickly. However, England stayed calm and continued to attack.
In the 18th minute, Rice delivered a dangerous corner. Ezri Konsa rose highest inside the box and powered a header into the far corner. Therefore, England doubled their lead.
Ezri Konsa celebrates with his teammates.
France Miss Their Chances
France created several good opportunities before halftime. Kylian Mbappé looked dangerous whenever he found space. Rayan Cherki also caused problems with his dribbling. However, Dean Henderson made several strong saves. As a result, France could not get back into the game.
England looked much sharper in attack. Every counterattack created danger for the French defense.
Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze stretched the field with their pace. Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers linked the midfield and attack well. Consequently, France struggled whenever they lost possession.
Michael Olise.
Saka Shines Before Halftime
England continued to dominate the first half. In the 37th minute, Bukayo Saka scored England’s third goal. He finished a fast counterattack with a calm strike inside the penalty area.
Bukayo Saka scored against France.
England were not finished yet. During first-half stoppage time, Eze played an excellent through ball. Saka controlled it well before shooting. The ball deflected off Theo Hernández and beat Maignan.
As a result, England went into halftime with a comfortable 4-0 lead. At that point, many fans believed the match was over.
France Fight Back After the Break
France came out with much more energy after halftime. Didier Deschamps made four substitutions. Those changes immediately improved his team’s performance.
Only three minutes into the second half, Mbappé scored after breaking behind England’s defense.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal.
Soon after, Bradley Barcola added another goal with a composed finish. Therefore, France cut the gap to 4-2. England suddenly looked nervous.
Bradley Barcola scored against England.
France kept attacking with confidence. Then, in the 66th minute, Mbappé completed his brace after a quick one-two with Michael Olise.
The score became 4-3. As a result, England’s four-goal lead had almost disappeared.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a brace against England.
Saka Completes His Hat-Trick
France pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Meanwhile, England looked dangerous on the counterattack. In the 85th minute, Djed Spence burst into the penalty area. Malo Gusto brought him down, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Saka stepped up with confidence. He sent Maignan the wrong way and completed his hat-trick. Therefore, England restored a two-goal advantage at 5-3.
Saka was outstanding throughout the match. His speed, movement, and finishing caused problems all evening.
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick after successfully converting a penalty.
Bellingham Ends the Drama
France refused to give up. Deep into stoppage time, Dayot Upamecano won the ball high up the pitch. He then set up Ousmane Dembélé, who calmly scored to make it 5-4. For a moment, another comeback looked possible.
Ousmane Dembele scored against England.
However, England responded immediately. Jude Bellingham collected the ball inside his own half. He dribbled past several defenders before calmly beating Maignan.
His goal made it 6-4. Moments later, the referee blew the final whistle.
Jude Bellingham scored his sixth goal for England.
Saka Delivers His Best Performance
Bukayo Saka was clearly the star of the match. He scored three goals and constantly threatened France’s defense. In addition, he won the penalty that helped seal England’s victory.
Declan Rice also enjoyed an excellent game. He scored the opening goal and provided an assist for Konsa. Jude Bellingham made an instant impact from the bench. Although he played only the final minutes, he still scored a brilliant solo goal.
France also had several standout players. Mbappé scored twice and almost inspired a comeback. Meanwhile, Barcola and Dembélé added fresh energy after coming on. However, France’s poor defending in the first half proved too costly.
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring against France.
England Finish the Tournament in Style
England ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a memorable victory. Although they narrowly missed the final, third place is still a strong result. More importantly, several young players showed they are ready for future tournaments.
Saka was the biggest winner. His hat-trick confirmed his status as one of England’s most important attackers.
France leave the tournament disappointed. They showed great attacking quality but struggled defensively. Even so, Les Bleus remain one of the strongest teams in world football.
England will win the bronze medal at the 2026 World Cup.
France vs England Match Summary
Final Score: France 4-6 England
France Scorers
- Kylian Mbappé (48′, 66′)
- Bradley Barcola (54′)
- Ousmane Dembélé (90+6′)
England Scorers
- Declan Rice (3′)
- Ezri Konsa (18′)
- Bukayo Saka (37′, 45+1′, 87′ pen)
- Jude Bellingham (90+8′)
England finished the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France. Although Les Bleus nearly completed an incredible comeback, Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick and Jude Bellingham’s late goal secured third place for the Three Lions after one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches.
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