By Teddy Nwanunobi
England’s ‘bronze final’ (formerly known as the third-place play-off) 6-4 win against France on Saturday night is the English men’s best World Cup result since 1966 triumph, with a medal in 60 years.
The match also ensured that Didier Deschamps’ reign ended in a thrilling loss, after his 187th and final match in charge – a record-extending 27th in World Cup finals – as he bid a long-mooted farewell to the France national team.
Before the encounter in Miami Stadium, Florida, USA, it was regarded as a match nobody wanted to play. But it later became the match nobody wanted to end, as Bukayo Saka scored twice (37′, 45’+1), after Declan Rice (3′) and Ezri Konsa (18′) had put the Three Lions in control inside the opening 20 minutes.
Down by 0-4 at half-time, Les Bleus (The Blues) dominated after break, and hit back through Kylian Mbappe (two – 48′, 66′) and Bradley Barcola (54′).
Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, after Djed Spence was fouled by Malo Gusto, before Ousmane Dembele curled home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cut the deficit to 5-4. Jowever, Jude Bellingham jinked through France’s defence to seal England’s win in the 98th minute.
The game had 38 shots (including 20 on target), and no England match at a World Cup has featured more goals. Mbappe became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, with 22 goals – one ahead of Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
France had never before conceded six goals in a World Cup match. It is the first time they have conceded six times in any match in, appropriately, 66 years.
Meanwhile, Bellingham finished his superb individual tournament, with seven goals at this World Cup – the most of any England men’s player at a single edition.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018, looked to go out with a bang as he started both Mbappe and Michael Olise. But his tenure ended in a first competitive defeat against England since 1982, despite a much improved second-half display – after a first period which threatened historic embarrassment.