England survive France fightback to secure third place in Miami goalfest

England secured third place in the World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in a goal-laden match in Miami. The game was a dramatic affair, with England initially building a commanding 4-0 lead before France mounted a stunning comeback in the second half.

Kylian Mbappé was the standout performer for France, netting two goals that not only made him the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals but also propelled him past Lionel Messi as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals. His brace was central to France's fightback, which saw them narrow the deficit significantly.

England's strong start was highlighted by goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa, with Bukayo Saka completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot late in the game. Despite France's spirited second-half rally, which included a goal from Ousmane Dembele, a late strike from substitute Jude Bellingham sealed the victory for England.

The 10 goals scored in the match set a new record for a third-place playoff. The game saw both teams experimenting with their lineups, with France's coach Didier Deschamps fielding a second-string defense. England, perhaps motivated by criticism of their previous match, played with an attacking intent from the outset, securing their best World Cup finish since their sole title win in 1966.