World Cup 2026: England beat France in third-place thriller, Deschamps bows out
England secured the bronze medal with a 6-4 victory over France in a dramatic third-place match in Miami. Despite a 4-0 lead, France mounted a comeback, but Jude Bellingham's stoppage-time goal sealed the win. It was Didier Deschamps' final game as France manager.
England claimed the third-place medal at the 2026 World Cup after a thrilling 6-4 win over France in Miami on Saturday. The match saw England dominate early, with Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa scoring before Bukayo Saka added two goals to make it 4-0. France seemed out of the game.
Kylian Mbappé sparked a comeback with a brace, and Bradley Barcola also scored, pulling France back to 3-4. Saka then converted a penalty to extend England's lead to 5-3, but France refused to give up. Ousmane Dembélé made it 4-5, setting up a tense finish. In the 98th minute, Jude Bellingham produced a stunning individual run and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, securing a 6-4 victory for England.
This match marked the end of Didier Deschamps' tenure as France's head coach. Despite Mbappé's two goals, which kept him in contention for the Golden Boot, it was not enough against England's relentless attack.
