England concluded their World Cup campaign with a remarkable 6-4 victory over France, securing third place and their best finish since 1966. The high-octane match saw England build a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime, only for France to mount a significant second-half comeback before England sealed the win.
Despite pre-match jeers directed at manager Thomas Tuchel, the team delivered a performance marked by early bravery and attacking intent. Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute with a powerful strike from distance. Ezri Konsa extended the lead with a header from a corner, and Bukayo Saka added two more before halftime, the second coming after a swift counter-attack. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the second half.
France's Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola scored in quick succession after halftime, narrowing the deficit. Mbappe further reduced the gap, bringing the score to 4-3 and increasing pressure on the English defense. However, Saka's penalty re-established a two-goal cushion. Ousmane Dembele scored France's fourth goal, but Jude Bellingham added a sixth for England late in the match.
Tuchel's team selection, which included seven changes from the previous match and rested key players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham for much of the game, has been interpreted by some as a measure of self-preservation. However, the team's initial dominant performance and eventual victory have been seen by others as vindication for the manager, who has faced criticism following England's semi-final exit.