France and England Set for Unwanted World Cup Bronze Medal Clash

Two of football’s heavyweight nations will face off in Saturday’s World Cup third-place playoff, a match neither team wanted after suffering semifinal heartbreak.

France, who entered the tournament as strong favorites to claim a third world title, were outclassed 2-0 by Spain in the last four, while England’s six-decade wait for a major trophy continued with a cruel 2-1 defeat to Argentina.

The match at Miami Stadium (21:00 GMT kickoff) carries added significance for France, as it marks coach Didier Deschamps’ final game in charge after 14 years at the helm. The 57-year-old, who led Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup crown and the 2022 final, will bid farewell to international management.

There is individual silverware at stake for Kylian Mbappe, who sits second in the Golden Boot race behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Both players have eight goals, but Messi’s four assists give him the edge over Mbappe’s three. Should the French captain overtake his rival, he would become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.

Both coaches admitted their players are struggling to find motivation. “None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” said England manager Thomas Tuchel. Deschamps echoed the sentiment, stating: “We’re not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment matches our ambitions.”

Statistical models favor France, with the Opta supercomputer predicting a 50.7 percent chance of victory inside 90 minutes, compared to 25.6 percent for England.

France will be without William Saliba and Brice Samba through injury, while England’s Jordan Henderson is also sidelined. Both sides are expected to rotate heavily, though Mbappe is likely to start in pursuit of the Golden Boot, alongside England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have six goals apiece.

This will be the fourth World Cup meeting between the nations, with England winning the first two encounters before France triumphed 2-1 in the 2022 quarterfinals. Overall, England have won just one of their last nine matches against France.