France determined to win bronze medal against England in World Cup playoff

Despite the sting of falling short of the final, the French national team is determined to conclude their 2026 World Cup campaign on a high note by securing the bronze medal. They face England in the third-place playoff match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

French defender Ibrahima Konate stressed the team's commitment to honoring the game, their opponent, and the French supporters. "We have a responsibility to respect this match, respect the English team, and also all the French supporters who will back us in this final match. We will give everything to come home with a medal, even if it's only the bronze medal," Konate stated, according to FIFA's official website.

Konate acknowledged the lingering disappointment after France missed the chance to reach a third consecutive World Cup final, having won in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2022. Their journey this year ended in the semifinals with a 0-2 loss to Spain. While the third-place playoff is not the match they aspired to play, the Real Madrid defender highlighted the historical rivalry between France and England.

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We have a responsibility to respect this match, respect the English team, and also all the French supporters who will back us in this final match. We will give everything to come home with a medal, even if it's only the bronze medal.

Coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that his players will not underestimate the match. He emphasized that despite not reaching the final, France must still deliver their best performance. "This is not a friendly match, and it's not the game we wanted to play, but the match exists. There is still a third place to fight for," Deschamps said.

This fixture marks France's fourth appearance in a World Cup third-place playoff. They previously competed in 1958, 1982, and 1986, winning the bronze medal twice (1958 and 1986) and losing once (1982 against Poland). Facing England presents France with their final opportunity to claim a medal in the 2026 World Cup and provide a fitting conclusion to Didier Deschamps' tenure as coach.

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This is not a friendly match, and it's not the game we wanted to play, but the match exists. There is still a third place to fight for.