France ‘make bold decision over Kylian Mbappe’ as team news leaked before World Cup third-play play-off vs England

KYLIAN MBAPPE is set to spearhead France’s against England tonight. That news comes after Didier Deschamps reportedly made the bold decision to keep his biggest star in the starting XI, despite planning changes elsewhere. Kylian Mbappe is in line to start against England Credit: Alamy Mbappe is chasing back-to-back World Cup Golden Boot awards Credit: Getty According to French outlet L’Equipe, Mbappe will lead the line in Miami as Les Bleus take on the Three Lions in the World Cup third-place play-off (10pm kick-off UK time). Real Madrid superstar Mbappe is still chasing the Golden Boot. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! France‘s talisman heads into the game level with former PSG team-mate Lionel Messi on eight goals, with Messi still to play in Sunday’s final against Spain. England boss Thomas Tuchel must now decide whether to unleash Harry Kane from the start after the skipper’s gruelling semi-final against Argentina. Kane sits on six goals, alongside Jude Bellingham, while France winger Ousmane Dembele, who is predicted to be left out of the starting XI, has five. French reports claim Deschamps will make SEVEN changes for what will be his final match in charge before handing the reigns to Zinedine Zidane. Only Mike Maignan, Adrien Rabiot, Michael Olise and Mbappe are expected to keep their places from the side beaten by Spain in the semi-finals. Arsenal defender William Saliba is ruled out after he aggravated a recurring back problem against Spain, with Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix tipped to replace him alongside new Real Madrid signing Ibrahima Konate. Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS Mbappe was kept quiet by Spain’s defence during the first semi-final on Tuesday night Credit: Getty Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne are all expected to make way as Deschamps freshens up his defence. In midfield, PSG’s young talent Warren Zaire-Emery is set for his first World Cup start alongside Rabiot, replacing Aurelien Tchouameni. Bayern Munich winger Olise is expected to move back onto the right flank, where he starred at club level last season. Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki is tipped to start in the No.10 role, while PSG star Desire Doue is expected to replace Arsenal target Bradley Barcola on the left. The predicted XI, according to L’Equipe, is: Maignan; Gusto, Konate, Lacroix, Theo Hernandez; Zaire-Emery; Rabiot; Olise, Cherki, Doue; Mbappe. Deschamps admitted after the semi-final defeat that France had little desire to contest the bronze medal match, but the 56-year-old is determined to bow out with victory after 14 years in charge. His successor is expected to be France legend Zidane, who will officially take over on September 1 as preparations begin for Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup. For England, Mbappe’s inclusion raises the stakes immediately. While France are rotating heavily, they are still backing their biggest name to fire them to victory – and potentially move clear of Messi in the Golden Boot race before Sunday’s final. That leaves Tuchel with a dilemma over Kane, whose own hopes of claiming the top scorer award may depend on matching Mbappe in Miami. Comment now