The two semi-final losers meet in Miami on Saturday night looking to end their campaigns on a high, with pride, prize money and the Golden Boot race still at stake.
France and England will battle for third place at the FIFA World Cup on Saturday night, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Nigeria time at Miami Stadium. Both sides will be looking to end their campaigns with a victory after falling short in the semi-finals.
France were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the first semi-final, ending their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. England’s dream also came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to defending champions Argentina in the second semi-final.
Although neither team achieved its ultimate goal of lifting the trophy, the bronze medal match still carries significance. The winners will finish third in the tournament and receive $29 million in prize money, while the fourth-placed team will earn $27 million.
More than a consolation match
The third-place playoff has been part of the FIFA World Cup since 1934, with the only exception coming in 1950, when FIFA used a final four-team round-robin group instead of a knockout final. While many players would have preferred to be preparing for Sunday’s final, the match remains an opportunity to end the competition on a positive note and add a World Cup medal to their achievements.
For France, the game will also mark the final match of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year spell as head coach. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the final, Deschamps insists his side remains motivated.
“There’s a third-place finish to play for, so we’ll do everything we can to get it,” he said.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has also stressed the importance of finishing strongly despite the disappointment of the semi-final defeat.
Team news
Both managers are expected to rotate their squads after physically demanding semi-final matches.
Deschamps has confirmed that captain Kylian Mbappé is fit despite recent concerns over his fitness, although several fringe players could be handed starting roles.
England are also expected to freshen up their line-up, with Tuchel likely to give opportunities to players who have seen limited minutes during the tournament while maintaining enough experience to secure a winning finish.
Golden Boot race still alive
Individual honours remain one of the biggest talking points heading into the match.
France captain Kylian Mbappé remains in contention for the Golden Boot heading into the third-place playoff. A goal against England could strengthen his chances before the race is decided in Sunday’s final, where Argentina captain Lionel Messi and other contenders will also be in action.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have each scored six goals, also remain in contention, although they will likely need multiple goals and favourable results in the final to overtake the leaders.
One last chance to finish strong
While the World Cup trophy is now beyond their reach, both France and England have plenty to play for. A third-place finish would provide a morale boost, reward their consistency throughout the tournament and send their players home with a medal.
With pride, prize money and the Golden Boot race all still on the line, Saturday night’s encounter promises to be more than just a consolation fixture before attention turns to Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
