Tuchel's reconciliation, Deschamps' farewell, Mbappé's record: Spectacle in third-place match

England, under coach Thomas Tuchel, secured a dramatic 6-4 victory over France in the World Cup third-place playoff, concluding their tournament with a high-scoring spectacle. The match, held in Miami, saw England establish a commanding 4-0 halftime lead with goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a Bukayo Saka brace. However, France mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding another, narrowing the deficit to one goal. Saka converted a penalty to extend England's lead, and although Ousmane Dembélé scored late for France, Jude Bellingham sealed the win with the tenth goal of the match.

For Kylian Mbappé, the game offered a personal milestone as his two goals moved him past Lionel Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring list with 22 goals. Despite the achievement, Mbappé voiced his disappointment about not reaching the final, stating, "I would rather not be the all-time top scorer and play the final tomorrow." His ten goals in this tournament also put him ahead of Messi in the current Golden Boot race.

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I would rather not be the all-time top scorer and play the final tomorrow.

The emphatic win served as a significant boost for England's coach Thomas Tuchel, who had faced considerable criticism after their semifinal loss to Argentina. Experts and former players, like BBC pundit Martin Keown, publicly supported Tuchel, urging the team to retain him. Players also voiced their support for the German coach following the bronze medal victory. This third-place finish marks England's best World Cup performance since their 1966 title win, providing a notable achievement for the team.

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It would be a complete waste of time if we didn't keep him. I think we should support him.