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Bukayo Saka (centre) completes his hat-trick in the bronze medal match - Luke Hales/Getty Images
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Was this evidence of England head coach Thomas Tuchel already learning lessons from the Argentina collapse? Let’s hope so.
With England on the ropes and in danger of throwing away a lead against France, Tuchel resisted the temptation to flood his team with defenders and was rewarded with a World Cup bronze medal.
England looked on course to secure an emphatic victory to clinch the nation’s best World Cup finish since 1966 and yet Tuchel was left with the exact same scenario that had gone so badly against Argentina in the semi-final.
Leading by four goals at half-time, England somehow went into the final hydration break of this bronze medal game with a single-goal advantage. This time, Tuchel steered England over the line by getting his late substitutions right.
Jude Bellingham stepped off the bench to cap a wonderful tournament for him personally with the goal that made sure England finished the World Cup in third place.
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England with their medals after winning the third-place play-off match - Marco Bello/Reuters
It may have resembled an exhibition match at times, with France failing to turn up in the first half. But England’s thrilling 6-4 victory will send Tuchel home from the United States feeling a little bit better, even though he is not yet off the hook for what happened in Atlanta.
The fact that success against France was earned with a Bukayo Saka hat-trick, as well as goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bellingham, will prompt more debate over Tuchel’s decision-making when it really mattered. Not least why Saka watched the entire Argentina game from the substitutes’ bench.
Tuchel cut a relaxed figure, changing his touchline attire to a casual white T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms. But his team meant business, as they raced into a stunning four-goal first-half lead.
Saka played like a man with a point to prove. He scored twice and produced the shot from which England won the corner for Konsa’s goal in the opening 45 minutes. Was this a message to Tuchel or simply the winger taking out his frustration on France?
France looked uninterested from the start and it was a loose Désiré Doué pass that gifted possession to Rice. As England’s captain for the evening strided forwards, Doué did not bother to track him and Rice curled a lovely shot into the corner of the net to give Tuchel’s team a third-minute lead.
It's a quick start from England!
Declan Rice fires home the opener in the third minute against Francepic.twitter.com/ID4u3rXOuM
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
Having been criticised for sending on three defenders against Argentina, Tuchel started with five attacking players on the pitch and just Rice in front of the defence.
Saka had a goal correctly ruled out for offside before seeing a shot blocked that resulted in the corner from which England doubled their lead. Rice turned provider, as he sent in a perfect delivery that was headed past goalkeeper Mike Maignan by Konsa five minutes before the first hydration break.
The Three Lions double their lead!
Ezri Konsa rises highest from Declan Rice's corner to head home pic.twitter.com/8BfI1LSDOQ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
While Tuchel would have been delighted with his team’s start to the game, Saka’s influence and impact raises just as many questions as answers.
Saka was the next England player on the scoresheet. He sent Marcus Rashford away on goal. Rashford’s shot was saved, but England kept the ball alive and Saka eventually found the back of the net via a deflection.
The Three Lions lead France by three goals!
Bukayo Saka finishing off a quick England counter-attack
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
England had been given much sterner tests by DR Congo and Panama, and yet Tuchel’s players deserve praise for capitalising on such a terrible first-half performance from France.
Ebererchi Eze could not have believed that he was given the time and space to turn and pick out Saka on the stroke of half-time. He did so superbly and Saka easily added England’s fourth goal.
It perhaps summed up France’s mentality that Kylian Mbappé, who threatened on a couple of occasions in the first half, reacted to England’s fourth goal with what appeared to be a slight smirk.
Tuchel’s name had been booed by some of those, mostly neutral supporters, inside the Miami Stadium ahead of kick-off.
His star has undoubtedly fallen as a result of the Argentina defeat and yet nobody could have failed to have been impressed by what his and his players produced in the first half on Saturday night, however bad France had been.
When Tuchel made a change at half-time, there was no Dan Burn sent on to try to see out a 4-0 win. Instead, it was an attacking substitution with Ollie Watkins replacing Rashford. It immediately backfired, but Tuchel was later rewarded for trying to remain positive.
Watkins’ first act was to lose the ball on the halfway line to start a France attack that ended in a goal. Michael Olise played in Mbappé, who slotted the ball past Dean Henderson, who was given a rare chance ahead of Jordan Pickford.
France substitute Bradley Barcola pulled another goal back in the 54th-minute, which meant that England’s four-goal advantage had been halved in just nine second-half minutes.
There was still no call for Burn, as Tuchel stuck to his gung-ho approach and Henderson had to save well from Ousmane Dembélé, who had also been sent on at the break. England had lost their balance with the half-time change and Olise was the next France attacker to go close.
Dembélé tested Henderson again before Mbappé got France’s third goal just before the final hydration break to pass Lionel Messi as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer. Like they had against Argentina, England had dropped deep and invited pressure as their opposition grew in confidence.
Kylian Mbappe scores his 22nd World Cup goal to become the leading goalscorer in the history of the competition
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
Having led so comfortably at half-time, England went into the final quarter of the game with a slender one-goal lead – just as they had against Argentina in Atlanta.
Olise somehow missed a sitter after arriving late on the end of a low ball across the penalty area and Tuchel decided it was time for more changes. But it was Elliot Anderson and Bellingham he called for, rather than any extra defenders, and it ultimately paid dividends.
Bellingham almost dribbled his way through to put the result beyond doubt, before Olise squandered another wonderful opportunity. Mercifully, Djed Spence won an 85th-minute penalty that allowed Saka to complete his hat-trick.
Bukayo Saka completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot!
England lead France 5-3 in the closing stages of this game pic.twitter.com/EnYOg8UAvT
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
There was still time for Dembélé to briefly up England’s anxiety levels again, before Bellingham put the finishing touch to what has been an outstanding World Cup for him personally with a brilliant goal.
12:32am
England on the podium
The players made sure to invite Jason Steele on to the stage to receive a medal. The Brighton goalkeeper is not in England’s World Cup squad, but travelled to North America as a training goalkeeper.
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England’s players with their bronze medals - Paul Childs/Reuters
12:28am
Saka plays down injury worries
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Bukayo Saka takes home the match ball - Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
12:22am
England receiving their medals now
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France are not hanging around for the ceremony. They are down the tunnel as organisers set up a stage to hand out the bronze medals. Probably sums up their attitude to the game.
12:14am
Tuchel reacts
12:12am
Third place secure
12:09am
One last airing for Wonderwall
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Some players from France and England are huddled near the halfway line praying. Among them are Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Trevoh Chalobah and Bukayo Saka. Very different atmosphere to the Argentina defeat three days ago in Atlanta. They are playing Wonderwall here as they prepare for the bronze medals to be handed out but it is not very celebratory this time.
12:05am
FT: England 6 France 4
When does the second set start? That was as much as you could hope for from a third/fourth-place play-off. Some slack defending, some high-quality combination play and lots of entertainment. England’s victory stops things spiralling further for Tuchel, but there will be a sense of what might have been, not least the fact Saka played no part in the semi-final.
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Jude Bellingham finishes the tournament as England’s top goalscorer - Paul Childs/Reuters
12:02am
GOOOOAALL! Bellingham wraps up the victory
Bellingham’s seventh goal of the tournament, which is the highest tally by an England player at a World Cup. The game was stretched, but it was a fantastic individual goal from Bellingham, carrying the ball forward from the halfway line. He showed great composure not to take the shot too early, taking extra touches to finish with aplomb.
A seventh goal of the tournament for Jude Bellingham!
The most EVER by an Englishman at a single World Cup pic.twitter.com/YACnNWvqW1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 18, 2026
12:00am
97 minutes: England 5 France 4
Good work from Reece James to keep the ball and then defend well against Barcola.
11:59pm
GOOOALLL! Dembele sets up nervy finish
What a barmy game this has been. Upamecano started the move with good defending and a surge forward, and then Dembele cuts inside Chalobah and buries a shot into the bottom corner.
Ousmane Dembele scores France's fourth goal against England
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
11:57pm
94 minutes: England 5 France 3
Spence down and receiving some treatment for cramp after winning a challenge against Olise. France not happy with the stoppage in the game.
11:55pm
92 minutes: England 5 France 3
Excellent Rice challenge, and then Bellingham wins a free-kick in midfield. Rice can hardly run yet managed to time his challenge well. Trevoh Chalobah replaces Marc Guehi.
11:54pm
91 minutes: England 5 France 3
Seven minutes of added time to play, and France have just been caught offside from their own short corner.
That is England's first World Cup hat-trick since Harry Kane scored three against Panama in the 2018 finals. But Bukayo Saka's treble is also the last England hat-trick in all competitions since.....Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal forward also scored three times in the win over North Macedonia in 2023.
That is England’s first World Cup hat-trick since Harry Kane scored three against Panama in the 2018 finals. But Bukayo Saka’s treble is also the last England hat-trick in all competitions since.... Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal forward also scored three times in the win over North Macedonia in 2023.
11:52pm
88 minutes: England 5 France 3
That was very unselfish from Jude Bellingham, because had he scored the penalty it would have been his seventh goal of the tournament. That would be the most goals scored by an England player at a World Cup.
11:51pm
GOOOOAALLL! Saka completes his hat-trick
Sends Maignan the wrong way, and picks out the bottom corner. Saka has his hat-trick, and England are surely assured of third place and the bronze medal/trophy. England’s players will be most pleased to avoid extra time.
Bukayo Saka completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot!
England lead France 5-3 in the closing stages of this game pic.twitter.com/EnYOg8UAvT
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
11:48pm
PENALTY ENGLAND!
Won by Djed Spence, who was too sharp by Malo Gusto. Once the England full-back got his toe to the ball, it was a stonewall penalty. Morgan Rogers played the pass to release him on the overlap.
Bellingham or Saka for the hat-trick? Bellingham has the ball in his hands, but then passes it to Saka for the hat-trick.
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Djed Spence is brought down by Malo Gusto - Paul Childs/Reuters
11:46pm
83 minutes: England 4 France 3
Qunsah off, Reece James on. That also looks a case of cramp in very humid conditions in Miami.
11:45pm
82 minutes: England 4 France 3
Now Olise misses a sitter! Great interplay in the box involving Olise and Dembele, five-a-side football between the France forwards, but the finish was lacking. Olise, and then the referee, receive some treatment for cramp.
11:44pm
80 minutes: England 4 France 3
England with a great chance to wrap the game up but Bellingham fluffed his lines! Burst through, the benefit of fresh legs, but he carried the ball too close to Maignan and then Rogers’s follow up was blocked.
11:42pm
80 minutes: England 4 France 3
Ivan Toney and Eberechi Eze are the players coming off, Bellingham and Anderson on, which adds some strength to England’s midfield.
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That is a big cheer for Bellingham coming on, one of the stars of the World Cup and appreciated by the neutral. His job here is to see out a win.
11:41pm
78 minutes: England 4 France 3
France continue to dominate, and they have a free-kick in a crossing position. Cleared by Eze. Elliott Anderson is ready to come on, as well as Bellingham. Digne finds Mbappe, but Konsa makes a good block. Rogers then does well to make it stick and buy a foul.
11:38pm
75 minutes: England 4 France 3
Great chance for France to equalise, but Michael Olise opened up his foot too much and his shot flew past the post. France look like scoring every time they venture into England’s defensive third. Mbappe goes down looking for a penalty, but nothing doing, before Digne fouls Saka in the box. May have been knee on knee contact, looked a sore one for Saka. Bellingham is ready to come on.
11:36pm
73 minutes: England 4 France 3
Rice is still out there, soldiering on. Somewhat surprising that Tuchel has not added fresh legs since his half-time changes. Better spell of possession in the last few minutes from England. There have been 15 shots on target in this game.
11:34pm
69 minutes: England 4 France 3
Play has stopped immediately after the goal for the hydration break. Tuchel mist be thinking about changes. Rice is struggling.
11:31pm
GOOOOALLL! Mbappe now the World Cup’s highest-ever goalscorer
This is a fantastic France goal, razor sharp link up play between Mbappe and Olise at the edge of the box, and the France captain’s finish was unerring. Drilled into the bottom corner with his left foot. Liquid football. Defending remains optional in this game, but that goal would have graced any game. Mbappe’s 22nd World Cup goal.
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Over to you Lionel! Mbappe’s 10th goal of the World Cup means he is the clear leader in the Golden Boot table - but Lionel Messi has a chance in the final tomorrow to add to his eight goals. You would not bet against Mbappe adding to his total here. England have been guilty of dropping deep again, just like they did against Argentina. They are a 4-4-2 with Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney partnering each other. This was just before the “hydration”, so Tuchel could change it up now.
Kylian Mbappe scores his 22nd World Cup goal to become the leading goalscorer in the history of the competition
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
11:29pm
66 minutes: England 4 France 2
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There is a loud chant coming from the stands: “Mexico!” That shows the diversity of the crowd here, with empty seats in sections including the England supporters. In just one small block of fans in front of the press box, there are shirts from Colombia, Inter Miami, Chile and USA.
11:28pm
65 minutes: England 4 France 2
France should probably be back to within one goal, but Ousmane Dembele scuffed his shot from a favourable position in the box and it was a simple save for Henderson. Then the goalkeeper pushes away a long-range hit by Upamecano.
11:26pm
63 minutes: England 4 France 2
Delightful scooped pass over the top of the France defence by Eze but Toney could not bring the ball under his spell off his chest. Then Spence does brilliantly to win a tackle and then turn defence into attakc with a surging run forward.
11:24pm
61 minutes: England 4 France 2
Morgan Rogers with a sloppy pass inside his own half, and Olise fires wide from the edge of the box. He had so much time and space to line it up. Some fatigue starting to show in England’s legs now.
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This is what Tuchel was talking about when he discussed England playing under pressure. France have decided to show up and all of a sudden the deficit is only two goals. Get ready for a testing half an hour.
11:22pm
59 minutes: England 4 France 2
England go close to another set-piece goal, but Maignan saves well after Toney rose to meet Rice’s inswinging delivery. There are surely going to be more goals in this game.
11:20pm
57 minutes: England 4 France 2
Henderson stands up well to save from Dembele, but the flag belatedly was raised for offside. A lot of wasted energy for Declan Rice, who had sprinted back some 60 yards to defend. England now the team being repeatedly exposed in transition.
11:18pm
GOOOAALL! Barcola pulls another goal back
Mbappe with the ball inside Quansah, who loses track of Barcola and with his pace that is always fatal. It looked like Barcola might have overrun the ball, but he got his shot off in time to find the bottom corner.
11:17pm
53 minutes: England 4 France 1
Great play from Eze, close control and quick feet to skip through two or three France challenges in midfield, and he tried to chip Maignan from the halfway line. Always drifting wide.
11:14pm
50 minutes: England 4 France 1
Composed football from England, playing out from deep in their own half with Rice finding Rogers between the lines. Saka with a pass into Watkins but his shot was tame. Then England and Spence were caught forward, but Rice got his toe to the ball ahead of Olise. Then Rabiot volleys not far wide. Chances galore in this game.
11:11pm
GOOOAALL! Mbappe leads Golden Boot race
France reduce the deficit through Mbappe’s ninth goal of the tournament. Watkins was caught in possession by Upamecano on halfway, and France found Olise free in the No 10 zone. Lovely through ball splits the England defence, and Mbappe finishes first time beyond Henderson with his left foot.
France hit back after the break!
Kylian Mbappe pulls one back with his ninth goal at the 2026 World Cup
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
11:08pm
We are back under way
England kick off in the second half.
11:08pm
Half-time changes
Hernandez, Konate, Cherki and Doue off, Digne, Upamecano, Barcola and Dembele on for France.
Ollie Watkins replaces Marcus Rashford for England.
11:04pm
Small sample size warning...
11:01pm
What could have been...
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England will fly back home tonight with the feel-good factor of a win against a World Cup heavyweight but it would be foolish to think any of Thomas Tuchel’s problems are solved. In fact, Bukayo Saka’s two first-half goals only leads to the question: why was he left on the bench against Argentina? And Ezri Konsa for that matter. England did not lose a game that Konsa started and it was harsh to bench him against Argentina last Wednesday.
10:59pm
Anthony Barry audibly emotional
10:55pm
A no-show from France
10:52pm
HT: England 4 France 0
Well, hands up who had this scoreline on their “bronze final” bingo card? A scarcely believable 45 minutes, and England have surely secured third place for this World Cup. There has been a lot to like about their attacking play, but for many it will make the frustration of Argentina sting all the more. France have been half-hearted in their defensive approach, but England have put them to the sword in style.
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Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring England’s fourth goal - Martin Rickett/PA
10:48pm
45+2 minutes: England 4 France 0
Just the four minutes of first-half stoppage time to play.
10:48pm
GOOOOALL! Saka makes it four
It is not a consequential game, but this is still a heck of a half from England. They are making mincemeat of a ragged France team. Eze with a lovely turn in midfield and through ball to his Arsenal team-mate Saka, and he found the bottom corner with an early finish. Four goals before half time.
10:44pm
44 minutes: England 3 France 0
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France are playing like they have been on the beach since their semi-final defeat by Spain last Tuesday. Tuchel won’t read too much into England’s best finish at a World Cup since 1966. He wants his team to perform under pressure and there has been none of that in this game.
10:43pm
42 minutes: England 3 France 0
Almost a fourth for England, Rashford’s low cross seemed to run under Toney’s foot when the striker would have had a tap in. Moments earlier, there was another great defensive recovery from Rice to block a Gusto pass.
10:41pm
40 minutes: England 3 France 0
Saka with a curling cross which is just beyond Rogers and drifts wide of the far post. France showing no signs of tightening up.
10:38pm
GOOOOALLL! Now Saka has his goal
Breaking in behind this France high line has been like shelling peas for England. Saka’s pass initially released Rashford on the break, and he had plenty of time to think when running through on goal. Maignan saved, Saka’s rebound was blocked, but it feel back for Rashford who kept his head and picked out Saka who passed the ball into an unguarded net. Pretty farcical France defending.
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That was a very close offside call from VAR for Saka’s goal. With Mike Maignan out of his goal, England needed to stay behind two France defenders. Marcus Rashford was about a foot onside before teeing up the third.
The Three Lions lead France by three goals!
Bukayo Saka finishing off a quick England counter-attack
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
10:36pm
35 minutes: England 2 France 0
Good save from Dean Henderson to deny Mbappe, who sat down two England defenders. You were waiting for the net to ripple, but his effort was too close to Henderson.
Then England break and Saka is in behind the France back four again, but his first touch is a little heavy, and he can neither get his shot off nor round Maignan.
10:34pm
33 minutes: England 2 France 0
England looking lively in attack again, Rashford with a delicious nutmeg on Zaire-Emery, before unleashing a swerving shot from almost 30 yards. Maignan was scrambling but he made the save. Rice then makes another ball recovery in midfield.
10:33pm
33 minutes: England 2 France 0
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There is a bronze medal at stake but this match has the feel of an exhibition. There is no intensity to France’s press. Michael Olise is extremely hard-working usually but has allowed opponents to run past him. Players are only coming alive with the ball at their feet.
10:31pm
31 minutes: England 2 France 0
Quick feet from Mbappe inside the England box, but Declan Rice was well-positioned to win an important challenge. Half an hour into the game, and Mbappe is yet to nudge ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race.
10:28pm
28 minutes: England 2 France 0
Guehi with a goal-line clearance after Mbappe squeezed a shot beyond Henderson, but the flag was up for offside in any case. It looked a close call on the replays, was a clever pass by Doue to find Mbappe. Henderson also did well to get something on the shot.
10:26pm
26 minutes: England 2 France 0
Play has now resumed, and England are back on the front foot after a Rice diagonal out to Quansah.
10:23pm
23 minutes: England 2 France 0
Time for the first hydration break of the game. Miami is one of the World Cup venues where it is probably appreciated.
10:22pm
21 minutes: England 2 France 0
You can only play the game in front of you, but England have done that well so far. They find Toney free in the box, but he cannot get his shot off on the swivel.
10:19pm
GOOAAALLL! Konsa heads home
Mbappe laughing as we walks back to the halfway line, so France are not feeling too stressed, but England are 2-0 up in Miami. Good inswinging delivery from Rice, and Konsa rose highest on the six-yard line to glance a header into the far corner.
The Three Lions double their lead!
Ezri Konsa rises highest from Declan Rice's corner to head home pic.twitter.com/8BfI1LSDOQ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
10:18pm
18 minutes: England 1 France 0
Saka is causing France’s defence all manner of problems, this time Eze released him in behind the French defence. Lacroix did well to stick to his task and deflect Saka’s shot over the bar for a corner.
10:15pm
15 minutes: England 1 France 0
Marc Guehi sticks out a leg to block Mbappe’s low cross after the French forward dropped a shoulder and showed his burst of speed over a few yards. England defend the corner. The game continues to feel open, there’s more space for the attackers on the pitch than there would be in a semi-final.
10:12pm
12 minutes: England 1 France 0
Bukayo Saka has the ball in the net but the flag goes up for offside. Correct decision, he had just strayed a yard ahead of Hernandez. It was a crisp finish, cutting back inside and finding the bottom corner with his left foot. England finding it quite easy to get in behind France.
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Bukayo Saka finds the net but he was offside - Carlos Barria/Reuters
10:11pm
11 minutes: England 1 France 0
The entertainment continues: Cherki with a strike from the edge of the D, which was parried by Henderson before Spence hurried his clearance. Zaire-Emery picked up the loose ball but could not do enough with it.
10:10pm
9 minutes: England 1 France 0
He did not know too much about it, but an important recovery run from Spence enables him to get his heel to the ball when it looked like Mbappe was away. England continue to move the ball well, looking quite fluent going forward, which will only serve to frustrate fans further.
10:07pm
7 minutes: England 1 France 0
England flowing forward again, Saka in behind Hernandez and lifting in a cross that came all the way to Rashford at the far post. One touch to control, the second to shoot, but his effort was blocked, deflected behind for a corner. Rice’s delivery is too deep.
10:06pm
5 minutes: England 1 France 0
Mbappe with a shot inside the England box but it is blocked by the legs of Rice. This kind of game tends to be either soporific or care-free and entertaining, and it feels like this is going to be the latter.
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That was Declan Rice’s first World Cup goal – and a beauty of a strike at that. It is still a strange decision to play him and add to his workload. This is not a game to judge Thomas Tuchel’s team on either, as France are not playing with urgency.
10:04pm
GOOOALLLL! Rice drills England in front
Doue with a sloppy pass across midfield when there was a chance for France to break, and Declan Rice intercepted. No France defender stepped out to engage the Arsenal man, and he was able to carry the ball forward unopposed. The finish was sweet, the ball was passed into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
It's a quick start from England!
Declan Rice fires home the opener in the third minute against France
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
10:02pm
2 minutes: England 0 France 0
The early indications are that Eze is playing in a deeper midfield position alongside Rice. Good pass from Dean Henderson into the free man Djed Spece behind France’s press. Then Rashford whips in a promising cross form the left towards Ivan Toney.
10:00pm
KICK OFF!
France get the game under way.
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As expected, there are a fair few empty seats here. In the end where some England fans seem to be congregated there are blocks of green seats visible from the opposite end of the stadium. It could be quite a strange atmosphere with most of the supporters inside the stadium neutrals. There are a lot of Mexico and Colombia shirts.
09:53pm
The teams are out
For the penultimate time in this tournament, it’s time for the giant flags on the pitch and the anthems. Rice and Mbappe lead out their teams.
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England and France are still smarting from their semi-final defeat - Marco Bello/Reuters
09:44pm
The mood has turned...
09:42pm
Dean Henderson gets his chance
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This is a big evening for Dean Henderson making his first World Cup appearance. The Crystal Palace goalkeeper, 29, earns his sixth cap and an opportunity to stake his claim for the No1 jersey next season.
09:35pm
Tuchel not concerned by Rice and Saka
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Bukayo Saka was not fit enough to start the semi-final - Paul Childs/Reuters
09:27pm
Tuchel on resting Kane and Bellingham
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Jude Bellingham is on England’s bench - Martin Rickett/PA
09:16pm
Kobbie Mainoo’s injury confirms this mad stat...
09:14pm
Ivan Toney on taking his chance
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Ivan Toney starts up front in place of Harry Kane - Paul Childs/Reuters
09:00pm
Game No 69 of the season for Rice
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Thomas Tuchel has risked angering Arsenal by selecting Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka for this game. Rice has been recovering from illness and was running on empty for the last two games. He has also suffered neural pain in his hamstring and describes himself as playing “an obscene amount of games”. This is surely a chance to have a breather. Saka has been managing an Achilles injury all tournament and did not feature against Argentina on Wednesday.
08:54pm
France team news
Seven changes to the team that was beaten by Spain, with Zaire-Emery starting in midfield. Rayan Cherki is preferred to Ousmane Dembele.
France XI: Maignan; T. Hernández, Lacroix, Konate, Gusto; Rabiot, Zaïre-Emery; Doue, Cherki, Olise, Mbappe
Subs: Akliouche, Barcola, Dembele, Digne, L. Hernandez, Kante, Kone, Kounde, Mateta, Risser, Saliba, Samba, Tchouameni, Thuram, Upamecano
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Rayan Cherki makes his first start of the tournament - Nathan Ray Seebeck/Reuters
08:50pm
Assessing England’s team
Some of Tuchel’s regular starters do drop to the bench: Pickford, Kane and Bellingham the notable names. Slightly surprising that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both start given their ongoing niggles. It is a very attacking team with Rice sitting behind Morgan Rogers and Eze. Is Tuchel making a point there?
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Morgan Rogers is on his way to Chelsea - Carlos Barria/Reuters
08:44pm
England team news
England XI: D. Henderson; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Eze; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Toney
Subs: Pickford, O’Reilly, Stones, Anderson, Kane, Bellingham, Chalobah, J. Henderson, Burn, Gordon, Watkins, Madueke, Trafford, James
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Kobbie Mainoo’s back injury means that he not only misses out today, but it also means he ends this World Cup without playing a single minute of the tournament. Ivan Toney gets his first start and you’d imagine Trevoh Chalobah will get off the substitutes’ bench at some stage for his first World Cup minutes. It’s certainly an attacking team, but it’s also a slightly strange one.
08:28pm
Tuchel as we have never seen him
Matt Law was one of the journalists in Tuchel’s absorbing pre-match press conference, and says he appeared wounded and possibly shaken. Matt writes: “There was some spikiness from Tuchel, when he deflected the odd question back to the reporter who asked it, and he was fidgety when not speaking, messing with the earpiece in front of him on the desk and twisting the wires. He did not look comfortable.”
You can read his piece in full here.
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Thomas Tuchel defended his in-game decision making - Martin Rickett/PA
08:17pm
England’s raft of nine-figure players
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The Morgan Rogers transfer to Chelsea means that two England players have moved for a British record fee during this World Cup.
Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City for £116m and Rogers has cost Chelsea £117m. That means England have two players who have moved for a combined £233m during this tournament.
England vice-captain Declan Rice cost Arsenal more than £100m in 2023. I haven’t done the maths, but it’s fair to guess that England’s first-choice starting line up would be worth near enough £1bn.
08:07pm
Souness: Rice and Anderson not world class
07:55pm
Weather watch
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There was a bolt of lightning in the distance on arrival at the Hard Rock Stadium. The last thing this Bronze match needs is a delay to prolong the agony of this match. John Stones was distraught doing his pre-match media duties yesterday. It is harsh to ask players to get themselves up for this game after the devastation of losing to Argentina on Wednesday.
07:30pm
How the Golden Boot race stands
07:24pm
Every day, straight to your inbox
07:16pm
Some breaking transfer news
Morgan Rogers is on his way to Chelsea for a record £117m fee, in news which comes as a blow to Arsenal’s summer transfer plans. Rogers started the semi-final on England’s right flank and he is likely to be involved again tonight.
07:13pm
This is Didier Deschamps’s last game
He leaves France having won a World Cup and reached the final in another. This team has arguably played the best football of the lot, but will finish empty-handed. The smart money is on Zinedine Zidane replacing him, who won three consecutive Champions Leagues while Real Madrid head coach. So he knows his way around knockout football.
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Didier Deschamps is stepping down - Carlos Barria/Reuters
07:00pm
England and France licking their wounds
Neither England nor France wanted to be playing this game in Miami, but they can have no complaints about the nature of their semi-final defeats.
Tournament favourites France were comprehensively outplayed by Spain, with their feted front four of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise all turning in below-par performances.
England’s defeat by Argentina was perhaps not as much of a surprise, but the nature of Thomas Tuchel’s team’s second-half collapse was just as alarming as France’s no-show.
England’s manager was fiercely criticised for replacing Anthony Gordon with Ezri Konsa and switching to a back five in the 72nd minute, but Tuchel has since defended his decisions.
“If you are asking if I regret my decisions, if this is the question, then I say no. I don’t regret my decisions because I felt that we became too passive,” said Tuchel.
“I took several decisions, trusting my instinct, my intuition, my experience, trusting my competitiveness, and I took the decision in order to help the team and get the result.
“I would regret if I didn’t help. I would regret if we didn’t react, but I have no regrets over the decision itself.”
Quite how strong Didier Deschamps and Tuchel decide to go with their teams is anyone’s guess. There has been some suggestion that Mbappe will start to give him the chance to beat Lionel Messi to the Golden Boot.
Some of England’s regular starters, such as Declan Rice, look physically spent, so there could be some rotation, and even a chance for players such as Kobbie Mainoo who has not played a minute of football at the tournament.
The third/fourth-place play-off has been rebranded as the “Bronze Final” for this tournament, and Tuchel was keen to point out that finishing third would be England’s best World Cup result since 1966. They lost this fixture against Belgium in 2018, but the way that game has been widely forgotten speaks volumes.
Full team news on the way shortly.
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