England defeated France in a chaotic third-place playoff at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by a 6-4 scoreline, securing their second-best finish to the tournament. The Three Lions bounced back from a disappointing semi-final defeat to claim a consolation prize at the end of the tournament in the USA.
Thomas Tuchel’s side came under fire for throwing away a lead over Argentina in Atlanta to be confined to the third-place playoff. Despite many changes to the XI, their approach from kick-off against France showed a seriousness many believed would be lacking in such a match.
