England’s World Cup dreams are dashed once more, the wait for a first men’s major trophy since 1966 goes on — and to make matters worse, they cannot even fly home just yet. Thomas Tuchel’s side must face France in Saturday’s third-place play-off (22:00 BST), a match that probably feels like the last thing anyone wants after Wednesday’s heart-breaking semi-final loss to Argentina.
Yet there are reasons to watch. First, the Golden Boot remains up for grabs. France captain Kylian Mbappe is level with Lionel Messi as the tournament’s joint top scorer on eight goals, but Messi has the edge thanks to four assists to Mbappe’s three. Goals in third-place play-offs count towards the award, so Mbappe can still overtake the former Barcelona forward — though Messi will have a chance to respond in the final. Should Mbappe score, or provide two assists, he would follow in the footsteps of Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci, who clinched the Golden Boot in 1990 by scoring in the third-place contest against England.
“England face France in World Cup third-place play-off; Mbappe can still win Golden Boot, victory would be best finish since 1966.”
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are just two goals behind the leaders, but with fewer assists, either would likely need a hat-trick to top the charts. Seeing top attacking talents chase goals is always compelling.
Victory over France would also ensure this is England’s best finish at the tournament for 60 years. Winning a third-place play-off for the first time might not be what fans dreamed of when the World Cup began, but it would mark a historic achievement for a side still processing the pain of another semi-final exit. The race for bronze, the Golden Boot, and a shred of redemption — Saturday’s game may matter more than it seems.