England secured their best World Cup finish since 1966 with a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff, a match that shattered multiple tournament records. Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick, while Kylian Mbappé moved past Lionel Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring list and strengthened his lead in the Golden Boot race.
A First-Half Blitz
England raced to a 4-0 halftime lead at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, with Saka striking in the 37th minute and again in first-half stoppage time. Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also found the net, putting Thomas Tuchel's side in a commanding position. Saka completed his second England hat trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, while Jude Bellingham added a sixth deep into stoppage time with his seventh goal of the tournament — the most by an England player at a single World Cup.
France, however, mounted a relentless second-half fightback. Captain Kylian Mbappé scored twice after the break, taking his career World Cup tally to 22 goals and surpassing Lionel Messi. The 27-year-old now leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals at this tournament, two ahead of Messi.
"I hope that the players can be proud of that in some time," England coach Thomas Tuchel said. "We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don't allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest goal. We set the highest dream to chase, and we were very, very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup. So it's very, very painful if you miss out."
Records Tumble
The 10-goal spectacle was the highest-scoring World Cup match since Hungary's 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982, and the most goals ever scored in a third-place playoff. Both teams had admitted beforehand they would rather have been playing in Sunday's final, but the consolation match still produced a host of records.
For France, the match marked the end of Didier Deschamps' tenure as head coach. The 56-year-old, who led Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, had announced his departure before the tournament. His final match in charge was a fittingly dramatic affair, though not the send-off he had hoped for. Read more about Deschamps' final match.
England's performance was a response to criticism of Tuchel's defensive tactics in their semifinal loss to Argentina. The German coach had faced scrutiny after that defeat, with some questioning his approach. The third-place win, while not the ultimate prize, demonstrated England's attacking firepower and resilience.
The match also highlighted the depth of talent in European football, with players from clubs across the continent — from Paris Saint-Germain to Bayern Munich to Manchester City — showcasing their skills on the global stage. As Europe continues to dominate the sport, the tournament has underscored the continent's central role in shaping the modern game.
