England secured a dramatic 6-4 victory over France to finish third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an action-packed playoff on Saturday night.
The Three Lions stormed into a commanding 4-0 lead before halftime, with Declan Rice opening the scoring. Ezri Konsa doubled England’s advantage with a header, while Bukayo Saka struck twice to put Thomas Tuchel’s side firmly in control.
France mounted a spirited comeback after the break, reducing the deficit with three goals. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, while Bradley Barcola also found the net to reignite Les Bleus’ hopes.
However, Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to restore England’s cushion before Ousmane Dembele netted France’s fourth goal.
Jude Bellingham then capped England’s impressive display with a brilliant solo effort to seal a memorable 6-4 victory and secure third place at the tournament.
