A World Cup third-place match in Miami turned into one of the most extraordinary scorelines the tournament has ever produced, as England beat France 6-4 in a ten-goal bronze-medal contest on Saturday (local time). Both sides had arrived at Miami Stadium after semi-final exits, and France's captain Kylian Mbappe later admitted his side had been left completely rattled by the way England started the game, before Les Bleus fought their way back into it.
England's First-Half Blitz
England raced into a 4-0 lead inside the opening 45 minutes and never really let France settle. Declan Rice broke the deadlock in only the third minute, and defender Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then took over the contest almost single-handedly, finding the net in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time (45+1'), leaving France four goals down at the break, a scoreline no French side had ever conceded in a single half of a World Cup match before.
Mbappe: "They Really Shook Us Awake"
Speaking after the final whistle, Mbappe said, "We were completely stunned, and they really shook us awake." He explained that although the first 45 minutes might have looked like the team failed to honour the France jersey, he preferred to describe it as simply being human at a moment the side could not afford to be. Mbappe added that the group felt for outgoing coach Didier Deschamps, since a poor opening half risked overshadowing what should have been a fitting farewell in his last match in charge of the national team, though he stressed the result would not damage the legacy Deschamps built with France over the years.
Mbappe Surges Past Messi As France Fight Back
Trailing 4-0 did not stop France from pushing back. Mbappe scored twice early in the second half and Bradley Barcola added another soon after, dragging the scoreline back to 4-3 and turning what had looked like a rout into a genuine contest. Mbappe's brace carried extra significance beyond the match itself: it took his career World Cup tally to 22 goals, moving him past Lionel Messi to become the competition's outright all-time leading scorer.
Saka's Hat-Trick And Bellingham's Late Blow
Just when France appeared to have wrestled back momentum, England reasserted control. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and restore England's cushion. Ousmane Dembele pulled one more goal back for France in the closing stages, but Jude Bellingham struck in stoppage time to confirm England's 6-4 win and secure the bronze medal for his side.
The End Of Deschamps' 14-Year Reign
The defeat also brought down the curtain on Didier Deschamps' 14-year reign as France manager. Deschamps took charge of the national team in 2012, led France to the World Cup title in 2018 and steered them to a second final in 2022, before this 2026 campaign ended with a semi-final loss to Spain and, now, a bronze-medal defeat in Miami to close out his long tenure at the helm.
