France vs. England: World Cup third-place match preview, Mbappé's tribute to Deschamps

France and England are set to clash for third place in the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, with the final between Argentina and Spain scheduled for Sunday in New Jersey. The match will mark the likely farewell for French coach Didier Deschamps.

Kylian Mbappé shared a heartfelt tribute to Deschamps on social media, acknowledging the coach's significant contributions over 14 years. "Today is your last dance. You who have given us so much. We should have offered you a better ending, but we have failed," Mbappé wrote. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent France on the biggest stage, calling himself privileged to have played under "one of the greatest legends of our country."

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Today is your last dance. You who have given us so much. We should have offered you a better ending, but we have failed.

Both Mbappé and England captain Harry Kane will be key figures in the third-place playoff. Beyond the final standings, the match also features a compelling Golden Boot race. Mbappé and Kane are among the top scorers, currently tied with Lionel Messi at eight goals each, adding another layer of individual competition to the tournament's conclusion.

France's starting lineup for the match includes Mike Maignan, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernández, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappé. England's team, managed by Thomas Tuchel, features Dean Henderson, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, and Ivan Toney.

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Putting into words what you have contributed over 14 years is very difficult. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent my country on the biggest stage for so many years. I feel privileged to have been alongside one of the greatest legends of our country.