10 goals in the World Cup third-place semi-final was not on anybody’s bingo card, but France and England delivered a World Cup game that won’t be forgotten in ages.
England and France faced off in the World Cup third-place game, and it delivered an exciting game that football fans won’t forget in a hurry,
The game was expected to be a tense affair between two of the best nations at the World Cup and in the world at the moment, and it felt that way in the opening minutes, only for Declan Rice to open the scoring in the 3rd minute.
Declan Rice’s goal opened the floodgates as England tore France apart in a first half that departing manager Didier Deschamps will look to forget.
A captain’s contribution ©️🏴#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/PWFZZsuEnC
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 18, 2026
Both teams would then create chances at either end of the field, only for Bukayo Saka to make it 2-0 in the 12th minute, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Saka then got another chance after a beautiful pass from Eze in transition, but his shot was deflected off the bar by Lacroix.
England then doubled their lead from the resulting corner with Ezri Konsa nodding Declan Rice’s corner into the far end of the post, leaving Maignan stuck in the centre.
England were all over France in the first half and it was only a matter of minutes before Saka made it 3-0 with a rebound from Rashford’s blocked shot. France could barely sort out themselves defensively when Saka got his first-half brace and England’s fourth in the first half.
To start the second half, Deschamps made four changes to the starting XI, looking to fight back and make some sense of the game. His substitutions paid off immediately as Upamecano neatly won the ball off Watkins, played in Olise, who played a fine pass to Mbappe, who tapped it past Henderson in goal.
With France filled with fresh fire, they added another in less than 7 minutes after scoring their first. This time, Mbappe turned provider for Barcola, who ran into the heart of the English defence and put his shot into the back of the net, making it 4-2.
It definitely was game on as both teams continued to create chances, France were unlucky to not have made it 4-3 before the 60th minute mark as Olise and Dembele failed to stick their chances into the net.
Once again, Mbappe stepped up for his team to make it 4-3 in the 66th minute after a nice passage of play between himself, Olise and Dembele. His second goal of the game took his tally to 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup and 22 (the most) in FIFA World Cup history.
A brace for Mbappe 🇫🇷#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YqcTRQ4yFA
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 18, 2026
Olise on the other hand, shattered the assist record in a single World Cup game, getting his seventh assist of the World Cup. Olise should’ve also made it 4-4, but his shooting accuracy deserted him for most of the game while Mbappe came close on multiple occasions.
England then had a chance to make it 5-3 after Gusto brought down Spence in the box. With a chance to get his first World Cup hat-trick, Saka calmly slotted it past Maignan to put England two goals ahead.
Hat-trick secured for Bukayo Saka! 🎩#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xrnPdte3bx
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 18, 2026
France didn’t hold back after going two goals behind. They kept plugging away, and they were rewarded with another goal from Dembele after a boisterous run from Upamecano, who turned provider. England would, however, have the final say as Bellingham dribbled his way into the box, past his marker, leaving Maignan sitting down to make it 6-4 and give England the win.
England are #FIFAWorldCup Bronze Final winners 🏴
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 18, 2026
Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions end the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the winners of the third-place game.
