Everything you need to know about what happened post-match after England’s win over France at the World Cup…
10-goal thriller: England bounced back from a heartbreaking semi-final defeat by defeating competition favorites France 6-4 in a close contest in Miami. Bukayo Saka stole the show with a stunning hat trick in the first half that helped them win the bronze medal.
Medal Ceremony: During the podium presentation, a heartwarming moment was captured on camera where veteran keeper Jason Steele was accidentally overlooked during the first medal distribution. Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson immediately noticed him and pulled him onto the stage so they wouldn’t miss the celebration.
Saka’s candid refusal to participate in the interview: His frustration at missing out on advancing to the finals was clear even during the post-match press conference. Bukayo Saka cut his BBC interview short and walked away after the presenter awkwardly insisted that a bronze medal was “at least” something.
Team Handwritten Poem: In a touching post-tournament tribute, Jude Bellingham shared a handwritten poem on Instagram titled “The Lion’s Way.” This defiant and emotional work was written exclusively for the team by Michael Chandler, the official driver of the Kansas England national team.
Bellingham’s Defiant Promise: Alongside his poem, Bellingham expressed his great gratitude for the traveling support and appealed to the nation to maintain its new-found unity. He concluded his message with a fiery pledge for the future, promising great things as long as the team stays together.
Emotional half-time interview: Assistant manager Anthony Barry visibly fought back tears during an extremely graphic half-time chat with the BBC. Barry, usually known for his frank and harsh criticism, praised his team for completely flipping the script.
Playing through heartbreak: Barry expressed immense pride for his team, revealing they were heading into the bronze medal match with a “broken heart” after their crushing loss to Argentina in the semi-finals. He added that it was an absolute privilege to watch the players put together such a performance despite their grief.
Read more: Emotional England manager breaks down in tears as he tells BBC of World Cup ‘heartbreak’
