England 6 France 4: Three Lions win maddest World Cup game EVER in TEN-GOAL thriller to seal best finish since 1966

THE bronze medals are coming home, which certainly was not the plan when England arrived in Florida on June 1. The third-place play-off is the football fixture that nobody wants to play yet we were treated to a weirdly absorbing and totally bonkers game which England did their best to throw away in spectacular fashion. England looked to be running riot at 4-0 – then clung on to finish third Credit: Reuters Bukayo Saka sealed the fourth England hat-trick at the World Cup Credit: Getty Jude Bellingham rounded off the 6-4 victory with the last kick of the game Credit: Getty He picked the ball up on the halfway line and finished in style Credit: EPA Yet Bukayo Saka, who spent the entire semi-final sat on his backside on the subs bench, scored his second hat-trick for the Three Lions. In an utterly bizarre first half, France wanted to be here even less than Thomas Tuchel’s side. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! By delivering a performance that was a cross between a Soccer Aid side and a stag do kickabout after the first night, France jogged around while England scored through Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka, with a double, for a 4-0 lead. Yet France woke up after half-time and tore England to shreds. They brought it back to 4-3 with two goals from Kylian Mbappe and one from Bradley Barcola although Saka struck from the penalty spot. Yet in the sixth minute of injury-time, sub Ousmane Dembele made it 5-4. Straight from the kick-off, sub Jude Bellingham scored a wondergoal, to end the tournament that will be remembered for Wonderwall as the first Englishman to score seven goals at a single World Cup tournament. While his team-mates did not seem to give a s***, Mbappe was on a mission and those goals now see him two clear of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot – and one ahead in the all-time tally on 21. Most read in Football WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS It was meaningless but nevertheless entertaining. While no-one will be singing and dancing about it, England have recorded their best finish at a World Cup since 1966, having lost the 1990 and 2018 third-place play-offs. This will certainly not end the criticism of England’s carcrash defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals. And before kick-off here, when his face appeared on the big screens, former PSG manager Tuchel was jeered by both sets of fans. It was no surprise that Tuchel rested some of his team. But what would have been a magnificent sight was the reaction of Mikel Arteta when he saw the starting XI which included his Arsenal players Rice and Saka. Arteta, without doubt, would have thrown his phone against the wall. Equally, Kobbie Mainoo’s dismal tournament – he did not play a single minute – ended with him missing this game due to an injury. Kylian Mbappe broke Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup goal haul Credit: Getty Mbappe slotted home two in quick succession Credit: Getty Declan Rice gave England the lead in the third minute Credit: Reuters Ezri Konsa headed in the second Credit: AP England ratings: Saka has best Three Lions performance of the tournament but Toney fails to take chance vs France ENGLAND wrapped up their best finish at a World Cup since 1966 by notching a thrilling 6-4 win over France. In without doubt the maddest game of the tournament, Bukayo Saka hit a hat-trick, as goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa and a late stunner from Jude Bellingham saw the Three Lions to bag the bronze medal. But, despite scoring SIX, it was far from smooth sailing, with France fighting back from 4-0 down at half-time to give England an almighty scare. A double from Kylian Mbappe saw him overtake Lionel Messi as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele’s were also on target, but it would not be enough for France to complete a sensational comeback. But this attacking performance, as well as Saka’s treble after remaining on the bench against Argentina, will lead to more questions over Thomas Tuchel. Here is how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England stars’ performances in Miami… Substituted at half-time against Norway here in Miami a week earlier because he was struggling, Rice was on fire from the start. He intercepted a sloppy pass from Desire Doue, drove forward, Malo Gusto backed off, and then fired a terrific shot into the corner. Tuchel’s team, without barely trying, made it 2-0 before the dehydration break with Konsa easily getting away from Adrien Rabiot to score with a delightful glancing header from Rice’s corner. Rashford then caused mayhem in the French defence and teed up Saka who grabbed the third with Theo Hernandez unable to keep the ball out. Saka struck again in first-half injury time, burying the ball into the corner with his second touch after a brilliant through ball from Eberechi Eze. Surprisingly, in the second half, France decided to tear the Three Lions apart with ease. Mbappe pinged a shot past Henderson and then set up Barcola to make it 4-2. England could not stem the tide of blue shirts and Mbappe drilled his shot into the corner. Saka grabbed two goals in the first half Credit: Getty France looked utterly shell-shocked in the first half Credit: Reuters Saka made no mistake from the spot Credit: Reuters Bradley Barcola got France’s first just after half-time Credit: Reuters Michael Olise missed a few sitters and somehow England got through this battering with Djed Spence brought down by Gusto. Sub Bellingham looked certain to take the penalty and was booed when he handed the ball to Saka. While Bellingham was a 79th minute sub, skipper Kane did not play a minute. Yet this match was not over. Dembele curled a shot past Henderson and at the end, Bellingham had the final say with a stunning individual effort. On the day it emerged he was joining Chelsea for £117million, Morgan Rogers had a quiet game although he will be looking to returning to England to seal his new move. Yet the inquest into this World Cup will continue over the next few weeks, particularly at the FA. Tuchel should certainly have expected a fair amount of criticism or his tactics during the end of the game and also some of his squad selection before the tournament started. Equally, a lot of it is on players who have not been good enough. Realistically, England were never going to win the World Cup. Officially, they are the third best team in the world and even that might be above par. And, take deep breath, Tuchel will take a holiday before planning for England’s next game which is in the Nations League against Spain at Wembley on September 26. 6 comments6