England have secured their best finish at a World Cup since 1966 with a 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.
An absolutely thrilling game saw the Three Lions go in at half-time 4-0 up, thanks to goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka.
France mounted a comeback in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe getting a brace, Bradley Barcola chipping in and Ousmane Dembele scoring.
Goals from Saka, with a penalty, and a fantastic strike by Jude Bellingham mean England win 6-4 and conclude their World Cup with their second-best ever finish.
England have secured their best finish at a World Cup since 1966
|
REUTERS
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick for the Three Lions
|
REUTERS
The Three Lions beat France 6-4 in a 10-goal thriller
|
REUTERS
England started brilliantly in the contest, with Rice getting on the scoresheet early doors.
The Arsenal midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and guided a delicate, curling strike into the bottom right corner to give the Three Lions the lead.
Shortly after, Marcus Rashford got himself in behind, striking goalwards, but it was well blocked.
There was a relaxed feel around the game, with neither side performing any dark arts, as was to be expected given the nature of the fixture.
Kylian Mbappe scored a brace to go clear of Lionel Messi for now as the top scorer at the World Cup
|
REUTERS
Saka had one strike given offside after going slightly too early with his run, before getting in behind again not long after, but his shot was well blocked by Maxence Lacroix.
From the resulting corner whipped in by Rice, Konsa rose brilliantly and glanced a beautiful header past Mike Maignan to put the Three Lions two up.
Mbappe got his first sniff on goal just before the half-hour mark, with Dean Henderson out quickly to deflect the ball before being cleared off the line by Marc Guehi. Fortunately for the pair, the flag was up anyway.
Saka got his first of the game to make it 3-0 after he and Marcus Rashford had a few goes on goal.
Declan Rice got a goal and an assist in the first half
|
REUTERSRashford picked out Saka, who tucked home, with the French all over the place at the back.
The Arsenal winger didn’t have to wait long for his second and the Three Lions’ fourth, finishing with a cracking strike into the bottom right corner past Maignan to put England 4-0 up at half-time.
The second half saw France quickly get on the scoresheet, with Mbappe getting in behind and slotting past Henderson superbly to lead the race for the Golden Boot.
Not long after, Barcola joined him, with a cracking strike into the bottom left corner as France started to mount a comeback.
Bukayo Saka scored from the spot to complete his hat-trick
|
REUTERS
France continued their relentless pressure, with Mbappe once again finishing fantastically into the bottom right corner, putting Les Bleus just one behind.
Huge chances went begging for either side in the 81st minute, with Jude Bellingham going close and Michael Olise having a golden opportunity, which he put wide.
As France continued to put on relentless pressure, up stepped Djed Spence, who won a penalty for the Three Lions in a crucial moment.
Saka stepped up to get his hat-trick, but the game was not done there.
Jude Bellingham scored the final goal of the incredible contest
|
REUTERS
Dembele finally got himself on the scoresheet, curling home as France tried to force extra time.
Two minutes later and Les Bleus’ hopes were crushed by Bellingham, who produced a moment of magic, weaving through the French defence and tucking away superbly.
England collected their bronze medals as the Three Lions World Cup campaign ends on a positive note despite the heartbreak of the semi-final.
More to follow…
About the Author
