Saka hat-trick helps England down France to win World Cup 2026 Bronze Final

Kylian Mbappe scores doubly for France to deed World Cup grounds but England triumph 6-4 successful third-place playoff final.

England bushed France 6-4 successful a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff arsenic Kylian Mbappe became the all-time starring scorer successful World Cup history.

Both teams had higher aspirations astatine the 2026 tourney but suffered achy semi-final exits – France were outplayed by Spain portion England suffered a precocious illness against Argentina.

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Both coaches made aggregate changes for Saturday’s lucifer successful the oppressive vigor of Miami, with a big of stars connected the seat astatine the start.

England brag Thomas Tuchel near retired Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from his starting line-up portion Deschamps, stepping down aft 14 years astatine the helm, omitted Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice enactment England up with a extremity from region successful the 3rd infinitesimal and Ezri Konsa headed location to marque it 2-0.

Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise were a menace arsenic France searched for a mode backmost into the crippled but they recovered England’s second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson successful apical form.

The crippled threatened to go embarrassing for France erstwhile Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 aft a swift break.

And it was 4-0 successful first-half stoppage clip erstwhile Saka scored his 2nd extremity of the game, celebrated with a fist pump by Tuchel.

France manager Didier Deschamps told French TV transmission M6 that the first-half show had been “catastrophic”, urging his men to amusement pride.

He made 4 changes, bringing connected Dembele, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne and Barcola and was rewarded astir instantly erstwhile Mbappe scored his ninth extremity of the tourney to determination wide of Lionel Messi astatine the apical of the Golden Boot standings.

The crippled had present wholly changed complexion and Barcola pulled different extremity back, with Deschamps clenching his fist connected the bench.

Mbappe past netted his 2nd of the crippled to go the all-time starring World Cup goalscorer with 22 goals — slotting location from Olise’s pass.

That enactment him 2 up of Messi successful the contention to decorativeness arsenic apical scorer astatine the 2026 tournament.

France squandered a fig of chances to equalise and England were handed a accidental to widen their pb erstwhile Malo Gusto brought down Djed Spence successful the punishment area.

Saka stepped up to the spot and converted to implicit his hat-trick.

There was inactive clip for Dembele to drawback a 4th for France but Bellingham past strode guardant to people the 10th extremity of the lucifer with an idiosyncratic effort.

In doing truthful Bellingham became the archetypal England subordinate to people 7 goals astatine a World Cup.

By finishing third, England secured their champion effect astatine a World Cup since winning the tourney successful 1966, though they volition transportation bitter memories of their decision by defending champions Argentina.

Deschamps led France to World Cup glory successful 2018 and finished arsenic runners-up 4 years ago.

Les Bleus were favourites to triumph the 2026 tourney aft a sensational commencement but were well-beaten 2-0 by Spain successful the semi-finals.

Three-time champions Argentina look European champions Spain successful the last successful East Rutherford, New Jersey, connected Sunday.