England secures third place at World Cup with 6-4 victory over France

By Oliver Bennett — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

England achieved their best World Cup finish in 60 years by securing third place after a 6-4 win against France in the bronze final. The match, described as thrilling, saw England finish the tournament ranked third, having started in fourth place globally. This marks only the third time since 1966 that the team has reached the semi-finals.

Despite the victory, discussions have emerged regarding the team’s performance, particularly following reports of internal disagreements over manager Thomas Tuchel’s tactics and a second-half collapse against Argentina in the semi-final. Some views suggest the third-place finish might be under-appreciated, while others consider the campaign a disappointment.

Semi-final defeat and team morale

The semi-final loss to Argentina left the England camp deflated. Assistant manager Anthony Barry noted during the third-place play-off that the players were competing with “broken hearts.” There were also concerns within the squad regarding Tuchel’s tactical decisions and substitutions during the latter stages of the Argentina match, with some players privately discussing the perceived defensive approach.

Immediately after the Argentina game, the Football Association reaffirmed its support for Tuchel, with the intention for him to remain in charge for Euro 2028. However, fan reaction to Tuchel’s management has been noted, with supporters booing him in Miami before the France game. An end-of-tournament review is expected to discuss the defeat by Argentina.

Key performers and future outlook

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were highlighted for their performances, with Bellingham ending the tournament with seven goals, one more than Kane. Djed Spence also received recognition for a goal-saving challenge against Argentina. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka each contributed three assists.

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick against France, including a late penalty, contributing significantly to England’s 6-4 win. Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also scored, with Bellingham adding his seventh goal of the tournament. Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France, becoming the first male player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures in a World Cup.

Tuchel made seven changes for the third-place play-off, with Rice captaining the side despite carrying an injury. France also made changes, with Didier Deschamps managing his final match for the team. The match saw a rapid exchange of goals, with England taking a lead through Rice, Konsa, and two from Saka before Mbappé’s second-half efforts. England’s third goal involved Marcus Rashford and Saka, with Saka eventually scoring. Eberechi Eze set up Saka’s second goal just before half-time.

France responded with four changes at half-time, and Mbappé scored within three minutes of the restart. Bradley Barcola also scored for France. Despite France’s comeback, Saka’s hat-trick goal and Bellingham’s late strike secured the win for England. Ousmane Dembélé scored another goal for France in the match.

Looking ahead to Euro 2028, Tuchel faces the challenge of making England more potent and resilient. The team will need to find a way to reshape quickly, with emerging talents such as Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoah and Arsenal’s Max Dowman potentially joining the squad. The head coach’s decision to adopt a more attacking approach against France, resulting in a six-goal display, showed the team’s offensive capabilities. The next World Cup in 2030 will be held in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

Source: bbc.com