Bukayo Saka scored a superb hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in an extraordinary third-place play-off in Miami, securing their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.
Declan Rice, captaining the side for the night, unleashed a stunning strike past Mike Maignan in just the third minute. Ezri Konsa doubled the lead from a Rice corner 15 minutes later, then Saka scored twice in nine minutes to give England a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time.
“England beat France 6-4 in a thrilling World Cup bronze final, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick.”
But France, playing in Didier Deschamps' last game, refused to surrender. Kylian Mbappe scored twice either side of a Bradley Barcola strike to pull the score back to 4-3. Saka restored England's two-goal cushion with a late penalty, and though Ousmane Dembele scored to set up a nervy finale, Jude Bellingham's stunning solo goal sealed the win.
BBC Sport England reporter Alex Howell assessed the players' tournament performances. Jordan Pickford produced erratic moments but his best came in the semi-final defeat to Argentina, rating 6. Marc Guehi was a staple of the backline, earning an 8, while Konsa featured in every game and scored in the play-off, rated 7. John Stones, a 32-year-old gamble by Thomas Tuchel, started the first game but had shaky moments before regrouping, also rated 7.
Saka, who Mirror Football said was 'more like his usual self', was electric in the first half and rewarded with his hat-trick. Rice, described as providing 'a terrific first half' with a goal and an assist, led by example. The win banished the pain of England's heartbreaking semi-final loss to Argentina days earlier.