World Cup: France fall just short in extraordinary England thriller
France's final match under Didier Deschamps was one nobody in Miami will forget.
Les Bleus produced a stirring second-half fightback after trailing 4-0 at the break, but ultimately fell just short as England claimed the bronze medal with a remarkable 6-4 victory in the World Cup third-place playoff.
The Three Lions raced into an early lead through Declan Rice after just three minutes before Ezri Konsa doubled their advantage from a corner. Bukayo Saka then struck twice before half time as England ruthlessly punished a disjointed French defence to take a stunning four-goal cushion into the interval. Deschamps responded with four substitutions at the break, and France immediately looked transformed.
France rally IN THE second half
Kylian Mbappé pulled one back within four minutes of the restart before threading a superb pass through for Bradley Barcola to make it 4-2. The captain then combined brilliantly with Michael Olise to score his second of the night, reducing the deficit to a single goal with almost 25 minutes still to play.
France pushed relentlessly for an equaliser, with Olise and Ousmane Dembélé both going close, but England regained breathing space when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Dembélé gave Les Bleus renewed hope deep into stoppage time, only for Jude Bellingham to settle the contest moments later with England's sixth goal.
While the result brought France's World Cup to a disappointing conclusion, Mbappé ended the tournament with nine goals, and Les Bleus can reflect on another run to the final four. For Deschamps, meanwhile, the final whistle closed the curtain on a historic 14-year spell in charge of the national team, during which he led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and UEFA Nations League success in 2021.
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