England and France face off for World Cup third place
England and France are set to clash in the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off, with both teams looking to salvage pride after semi-final defeats. The match will see Didier Deschamps lead France for the last time after a 14-year tenure. The Golden Boot race remains open, with Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham all in contention. Both sides are dealing with injury concerns and possible lineup changes ahead of the fixture.
Match highlights
- England and France meet for the first time since France’s 2-1 win in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
- France lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-finals, while England were beaten 2-1 by Argentina after losing a second-half lead.
- Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are tied at eight goals each in the Golden Boot race, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on six.
- France will be without William Saliba due to injury, and England are missing Reece James and Jordan Henderson.
- This match marks the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year spell as France coach, during which he won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final.
