MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England outgunned France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday, producing the highest-scoring match at the tournament in 44 years and the most goals ever in a bronze-medal game.
Saka struck in the 37th minute, again in first-half stoppage time, and completed his treble from the penalty spot in the 87th minute at Hard Rock Stadium, recording his second career hat-trick for England. Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also scored before half-time as England built a commanding 4-0 lead, and Jude Bellingham added a seventh goal of the tournament — the most by an England player in a single World Cup — in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Kylian Mbappé responded with two second-half goals for France, taking his career World Cup tally to 22 and surpassing Lionel Messi's all-time record. The 27-year-old now leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two ahead of Messi ahead of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also found the net for France in a frantic second half that saw Les Bleus pull within 4-3 before England restored order.
The 10-goal thriller was the most prolific World Cup match since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and comfortably the highest-scoring third-place game in the tournament's history.
"It was painful to miss out on the final," England coach Thomas Tuchel said. "This game will help us for sure, even if a part will never allow you to fully celebrate the bronze medal."
The match also marked the end of an era for France, as Didier Deschamps stepped down after 14 years as head coach. Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, received an ovation as he left the pitch.
Bellingham's seventh goal of the tournament surpassed captain Harry Kane's six in both 2018 and 2026, as well as Gary Lineker's six in 1986, making the Real Madrid midfielder England's most prolific scorer in a single World Cup campaign.
For England, third place represents their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966, though Tuchel admitted the semifinal collapse against Argentina — where England led 1-0 before Messi set up two late goals — will linger.
"We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don't allow ourselves to be proud of third place because we set the highest dream to chase," Tuchel said.
A sell-out crowd of 64,478 watched the match at Hard Rock Stadium, the seventh and final World Cup fixture at the venue.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-england-france-third-place-score-52f94eda6ff6d268d38aaefbc446c525
