France 4-6 England: Bukayo Saka scores a hat-trick to help the Three Lions record their best result in a World Cup final since winning in 1966.
England beat France 6-4 in a thrilling bronze medal match (Image: Eddie Keogh/The FA)
This was one of the craziest, most reckless games I’ve ever seen. Yet somehow, in the end, England emerged victorious, recording the best performance in World Cup history on foreign soil.
Bukayo Saka produced a brilliant hat-trick as England dominated France, overcoming a second-half deficit and sealing third place in the tournament.
It seemed almost fitting that Saka would take the win after what had been a frustrating competition for the Arsenal winger, but just when England needed him most, he stepped up in brilliant fashion.
What a humiliating way for England, and one that produced a game-changing result that lifted the mood for under-pressure manager Thomas Tuchel. And this was France after all. The England team wanted to play against each other in the final, but they still produced a crazy 10-goal thriller in Miami.
This match will truly go down as one of the greatest matches in World Cup history, especially since the third-place match is the one no one wanted. Well, until you win.
Also, if it creates drama and entertainment like this, every soccer fan will subscribe.
This World Cup has been a rollercoaster for England, especially for Tuchel, who went from hero to zero after losing to Argentina in the semi-finals.
And it felt like a huge response from the players to a manager who was booed by England fans before kick-off.
However, England played their best 45 minutes of football in history, taking a 4-0 lead at half-time when it felt like they were playing with less pressure, and they also displayed the kind of football Tuchel had been demanding after Argentina.
However, in the second half, France, led by Kylian Mbappé, fought back fiercely, eventually increasing their score to 10 points and chasing the Golden Boot award, and a tie seemed almost inevitable.
Bukayo Saka scores a hat-trick to lead England to victory (Image: Getty Images)
The game was 4-3 and England were holding on, but can you imagine if they had collapsed again? It would have been unbearable.
But in a tense moment, the big players stepped up, Saka converted a penalty and England’s Player of the Tournament Jude Bellingham sealed victory with a break goal as France bravely made it 5-4 in stoppage time. Who else is there?
This should be a real plus for Tuchel, as finishing third was something he was unable to achieve in 1990 and 2018.
England made seven changes to their squad, including the removal of Harry Kane and Bellingham, with Declan Rice wearing the captain’s armband.
Rice stole the ball from Desiree Douet, charged forward and scored with a low shot into the far corner.
It was Rice who jumped over the corner of Ezri Konsa and headed home. Saka scored after Marcus Rashford’s opener, and the Arsenal winger connected with Ebelesi Eze’s through ball for his second goal of the first half.
But France was always going to come back. This was Didier Deschamps’ last game as manager. Indeed, he was too quick to signal his absence.
Mbappe struck back just three minutes after the restart. Mbappe set up Bradley Barcola’s goal and England really lost their nerve. Mbappé made it 4-3 in the 67th minute.
Michael Oliseh missed the equalizer. But then Maro Gusto beat Jed Spence and Saka converted. Still, there was time for Ousmane Dembele to make it 5-4.
So Bellingham charged the other end and scored a breakaway goal to seal the deal. It was an unforgettable tournament for England and Bellingham.
What a way to end. And Tuchel will understand that his players are grateful. Because as quickly as the mood turned sour, this felt like a huge result for the England manager.
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