England beat France in remarkable 10-goal thriller to finish third at World Cup
Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring his sides fifth goal and his hat trick
England secured their best men’s World Cup finish since 1966 in jaw-dropping fashion as Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick helped under-fire Thomas Tuchel’s side hold off France in an extraordinary 6-4 third-place play-off win.
An occasion that started with boos for the heavily-criticised manager ended in a breathless bronze medal, with the wounds from Wednesday’s semi-final collapse to Argentina still raw.
Saka’s brace followed goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa in a remarkable first half that was followed by a scarcely believable second period in the Miami heat and humidity.
France came out swinging in Didier Deschamps’ final match in charge as Kylian Mbappe scored a brace, taking charge of the Golden Boot race and becoming the top scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.
Substitute Bradley Barcola scored the other and Les Bleus continued to pepper England’s goal as Tuchel stared down the barrel of even greater humiliation than three days ago.
But this England just held out. Saka scored a late penalty to complete his treble and substitute Jude Bellingham scored an outrageous solo effort after Ousmane Dembele’s earlier stoppage-time strike.
This Miami meeting was a match no player wanted to be involved in but turned into a helter-skelter clash nobody could take their eyes off.
Harry Kane and Bellingham were named on the bench as Tuchel made seven alterations, including surprisingly starting Rice at the end of a summer that has seen him manage a hamstring injury.
But after just three minutes the move paid off as he burst forward after cutting out a pass before placing an exceptional shot past Mike Maignan from 20 yards.
It was a dream start against a punch-drunk side that continued to invite England on, with Saka seeing a goal disallowed for offside before seeing a copycat effort blocked for a corner.
Rice swung over the resulting set-piece and Konsa rose to head home a second in the 18th minute.
Mbappe bent a shot wide and called back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson into action, but England were still posing problems.
Maignan prevented Marcus Rashford scoring a magical long-range effort and then denied him on the break, only for the forward to help keep the move alive and cut the ball back for Saka to sweep home.
France looked powerless to stop swashbuckling England, who added a fourth in stoppage time when Eberechi Eze’s exceptional pass was met by a similarly impressive Saka finish.
It was an incredible first half and was followed by a bonkers second period.
Deschamps made four half-time changes and Mbappe pulled a goal back inside three minutes after Michael Olise slipped him in to score a fine first-time finish.
Barcola was among those brought on and he added another in the 54th minute, having been brilliantly slipped in by Mbappe.
Olise, Adrien Rabiot and Dembele all threatened as England faltered, although Ivan Toney would have settled nerves had Maignan not expertly denied him England’s fifth.
Tuchel’s side were facing attack after attack. Dayot Upamecano saw an effort saved before a world-class move ended with Mbappe scoring in the 66th minute after collecting a return pass from Olise.
England had no control whatsoever and Olise twice uncharacteristically screwed wide as France sought an unthinkable leveller.
Substitute Bellingham came close to seemingly settling proceedings shortly after his introduction, with England then getting a chance from the spot when Malo Gusto fouled Djed Spence.
Saka held his nerve to score his penalty and complete his hat-trick in the 87th minute.
But things were still not done.
Dembele brought France back to within a goal before England’s star man Bellingham settled things with his seventh, and most stunning, goal of the tournament.
Collecting a loose ball just inside his own half, he drove forward with skill and confidence before cutting away from French defenders in the box and powering home.
It provided a wild end to a summer that will forever have the nagging feeling of what might have been.
– Saved brilliantly from Kylian Mbappe twice in the first half and made the best of his only appearance of the tournament. Could do little with France’s four goals.
– Allowed Bradley Barcola in behind him for France’s second goal early in the second half.
– Assured at the back and scored England’s second with a brilliant leap and well-placed header that dropped in at the far post.
– Had little to do in the first half along with the rest of the back four but was unable to arrest the France onslaught as England’s control of the match deserted them after the break.
– Assured in the first half, nervous and uncertain in the second, his performance was a microcosm of England’s in general before a late burst forward won the penalty.
– Captained the side in the Kane’s absence, a lovely finish for the first goal and set up the second for Konsa from a corner.
– Missed a couple of good chances before getting England’s third and fourth at the end of a rampant first half. Deserved his hat-trick with a penalty.
– Excellent in the first half, a performance that suggested he ought to have been used more during the tournament.
– One wonderful run in the second half before wasting the chance with a hopeful long-range lob that dropped well wide.
– A wonderful piece of skill in the first half to make space for a shot that was well saved by Mike Maignan.
– Missed from his only real chance in the second half as England looked to halt the French fightback as his only start of the tournament largely passed him by.
– (on for Rashford, 46) Failed to make an impact as England wilted as an attacking force.
– (on for Eze, 79) Danced through France just seconds after coming on and should have put the game to bed, but did so finally with virtually the final kick.
– (on for Toney, 79) Sent on with 11 minutes to go but could not help England regain control.
– (on for Quansah, 83) Brought on for the final few minutes but had little impact.
– (on for Guehi, 90+3) The last player added to the World Cup squad as a late call-up made his second international appearance in the third minute of stoppage time.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
