France and England will battle for third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday in the tournament’s bronze medal playoff, with both nations aiming to end their campaigns on a positive note after painful semi-final defeats.
Les Bleus saw their hopes of reaching another World Cup final ended by a disciplined Spain side, who claimed a deserved 2-0 victory. The defeat marked the final World Cup match under Didier Deschamps, whose long spell in charge of France is set to come to an end after the tournament.
England, meanwhile, suffered late heartbreak against reigning champions Argentina. Thomas Tuchel’s side took the lead through Anthony Gordon after exposing Argentina’s flanks, but Lionel Messi inspired a dramatic comeback, setting up Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 defeat.
Team News
“My back is gone, my back is gone” – Eight words that made for grim reading for fans of France and Arsenal, eight words professed by William Saliba after the centre-back was forced off in the first half of Tuesday’s defeat with his well-documented back problem.
Deschamps and Tuchel can empathise over semi-final injuries to Premier League defenders, as the perpetually luckless Reece James was forced off with an apparent muscular problem in the loss to Argentina, merely a week after making a full recovery from a hamstring concern.
Possible Lineups
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Kone, Zaire-Emery; Cherki, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 21:00 (WAT) |
Match Predictions
Softfootball predicts France 2-1 England
