A Record-Breaking Finale
England secured third place in the World Cup with a 6-4 victory over France in a high-scoring clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The match featured a flurry of goals from both sides, with Bukayo Saka completing a hat-trick and Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also on the scoresheet for England.
Kylian Mbappe, already the tournament’s leading scorer, added two more to reach 22 goals for the competition, extending his lead over Lionel Messi in the all-time World Cup rankings.
France’s Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele also found the net, while Jude Bellingham contributed a sixth goal for England, underscoring the match’s attacking openness.
Midfielder Michael Olise set a World Cup assist record with seven assists, surpassing Pele’s tally from 1970, highlighting a new era of playmaking.
France’s defensive reshuffle, bringing in Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne, helped stabilize a backline that had started poorly, but could not prevent the final scoreline.
The game marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ 185-match tenure as France coach, concluding a storied period for Les Bleus.
With the third-place finish, England will look to build on the momentum heading into future tournaments, while Mbappe’s record-breaking performance cements his status as the tournament’s most prolific scorer.