A rampant England stunned woeful France with four first-half goals as they conclude their World Cup 2026 campaign down in Miami with a bronze final rout.
The game that nobody wants to play sees the Three Lions attempt to pick themselves up after being floored by Argentina’s late show in Atlanta, and they did that in style as Declan Rice rifled home a long-range stunner with just three minutes on the clock before Ezri Konsa nodded in Rice’s corner on 18 minutes and Bukayo Saka bagged two goals in the final eight minutes of the first half to hand out a thrashing.
The aftermath of the semi-final defeat has seen Thomas Tuchel’s reputation shredded by parts of the media and fans, including President Donald Trump mentioning his strategy following Anthony Gordon’s opener. The boss has opted for major changes to the starting XI in response, with captain Harry Kane surprisingly rested despite being in contention for the golden boot, with Ivan Toney starting instead. The likes of Dean Henderson, Jarell Quansah, Eberechi Eze and Marcus Rashford are also given a runout.
France, too, must lift it to conclude the glittering Didier Deschamps reign, with Kylian Mbappe also determined to win the golden boot in a hard-fought battle with Lionel Messi.
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England 4-1 France
51 mins: This is much much better from France, They are pressing high and playing everything quick and early.
Whatever Deschamps said in the dressing room, clearly worked.
Goal!! England 4-1 France
48 mins: That is exactly the response Deschamps would have wanted. Upamecano dispossesses Watkins and the ball finds its way to Olise who slides it through the disjointed England defence to Mbappe who was never going to miss.
Much more intensity from the French already.
England 4-0 France
We are back underway for the second-half in this bizarre Bronze Final as England look to pick up where they left off and France will be hoping to scrub that first 45 mins from the record.
France are bringing on the big guns as Hernandez, Konate, Doue and Cherki make way for Digne, Upamecano, Barcola and Dembele.
Its a single change for England as Rashford is replaced by Ollie Watkins who makes his first appearance since the game against Panama.
A telling statistic
France have not conceded four goals in the first half in any game since a European Championship qualification game against Yugoslavia, yes, Yugoslavia, in…1968
Anthony Barry ’emotional’ at first-half performance
England coach Anthony Barry is always good value in his half-time interviews and this one is no different. He admits he’s emotional at how the players have responded to Wednesday’s heartbreak.
“I’m a little bit emotional,” says Barry. “I can’t find the words to describe just how proud I am of these players. They’re playing the game with broken hearts. I see 11 lads out on the field with broken hearts. I’ve seen them in the hotel the last two days with broken hearts.
“That they can build a performance like that just through pride of playing for England, the team spirit we’ve built over the last seven weeks, it’s great to watch.
“I know what the cynics will say, it’s too late, but we still play against a world-class opponent and that 45 minutes, I’m so proud of the boys.”
Where are France?
Since the first minute there has been no impetus and no aggression either in attack or defence.
Going forward, Mbappe is giving it his best but he cannot do it on his own. Every time they looked to be able to get a ball into the box there were no blue shirts waiting for its arrival. It is very disjointed.
In defence, their line is sitting so high that any time they lose the ball, England have a huge chunk of space between the French line and and the halfway line that has lead to some lethal counter attacks.
Is it tired legs or is it the disappointment of crashing out manifesting itself?
Speed, power and precision
Saka, Rice, Eze and Rashford have been at the bleeding edge of England’s attack. The composure and willingness to attack at full speed and chase every ball has been the reason for the ease of which they are scoring – France just can’t keep up.
This is the game of England players who believe they should be in the final, they are playing with broken hearts and the bit between their teeth
Half-time: England 4-0 France
At a loss for words, that is the best half of football England have played all tournament. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what has changed.
England are playing sharp football around a tired looking France who have barely had a sniff, save a couple of moments from Mbappe.
To single out one England player would be to do the rest a disservice, it has been a wonderful team performance, every man is giving it their all.
Goal!! England 4-0 France
47 mins: Its happened again! Eze turned Zaire-Emery and finds the perfect pass into Saka who unleashes an early shot across goal, beating Maignan who couldn’t even get down.
England are resurgent and France look completely out of it
Where was this on Wednesday?
