Bukayo Saka scored a hattrick as England claimed a 6-4 victory against France to claim the 2026 FIFA World Cup bronze medal.
The third place match lived up to it’s expectations with both teams getting their moments which they ensured counted for something.
It was a spectacle that served as a bittersweet consolation for both sides following their respective semi-final exits against Argentina and Spain respectively.
England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, started with unexpected aggression despite the absence of key stars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from the initial lineup.
The scoring opened as early as the third minute when Declan Rice fired a long-range stunner into the far corner to make it 1-0.
Momentum shifted heavily toward the Three Lions as Ezri Konsa headed home a corner in the 18th minute, doubling the lead 2-0.
As France struggled to find a foothold, Bukayo Saka took center stage, netting two goals in the final eight minutes of the first half to establish a commanding 4-0 lead by the interval.
France headed for the breaking knowing they need to turn things around after going down by four goals without being able to make any response.
The first half marked a dismal conclusion to the tenure of Didier Deschamps, who was managing his final game after 14 years in charge.
The second half, however, witnessed a dramatic momentum swing. Awakened by what appeared to be a stern half-time team talk, Les Bleus came out with renewed purpose.
Kylian Mbappe led the charge, scoring in the 48th minutes. Bradley Barcola added another to tighten the contest further, forcing England to weather a period of significant pressure as things became 4-2.
Kylian Mbappe scored again to make it a brace which not only narrow the deficit but also secure his place in history as the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history with 22 total goals.
While England briefly restored their breathing room when Saka converted an 87th-minute penalty, completing a sensational hat-trick, but the drama remained far from over.
Ousmane Dembele’s stoppage-time strike reduced the gap to a single goal at 5-4, giving the French a glimmer of hope for an unlikely equaliser.
The frantic pace ultimately culminated in a final goal from Jude Bellingham, who danced through the French defense in the dying moments to seal a 6-4 victory.
The win secured England their best World Cup finish since 1966. While the defensive lapses were evident, the match will be remembered for its sheer entertainment value and individual brilliance.
The bronze medal serves as a testament to the Three Lions squad depth and resilience, even as fans and pundits alike were left to wonder what might have been had such adventurous tactics been employed in their semi-final loss to Argentina.
Meanwhile, for France, the defeat marks the end of an era, leaving the nation to look ahead to a new chapter under future leadership.
The Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel finished the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a high by claiming a third place finish after a thrilling 6-4 result after 90 minutes played against Les Blues.
