Bukayo Saka walked out of a post-match BBC interview after scoring a hat-trick in England’s 6-4 third-place play-off win over France, visibly upset when a presenter tried to put a positive spin on the bronze medal. Kelly Sommers, the broadcaster’s England correspondent, told the Arsenal winger: “Well played today, I know you didn’t want the bronze, but it’s a medal at least.” Saka puffed his cheeks out, gave a wry smile and stepped away from the microphone, exchanging pleasantries before leaving.
The win in Miami marked England’s best World Cup finish since 1966, but the disappointment of Wednesday’s semi-final defeat to Argentina still lingered. Saka, who had not featured in that shock loss, netted three times in the first half as Thomas Tuchel’s side raced to a 4-0 lead. Kylian Mbappe’s double sparked a French fightback, but Jude Bellingham sealed victory with a stoppage-time solo run from the halfway line, slotting into the bottom corner with the final kick of the game.
“Saka walked out of BBC interview after hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 and Bellingham set World Cup goals record.”
Bellingham’s goal was his seventh of the tournament, making him the first Englishman to score seven times at a single World Cup. The 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder, who came on in the 79th minute, had earlier handed a penalty to Saka to complete his treble. “No, Jude was never taking it,” Saka told BBC One after the match. “He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me. I was always going to take it.”
Danny Murphy, the former England midfielder, described Bellingham as “England’s best player” during the broadcast. “He has such confidence in his own ability. The patience, the skill, the shot. What a goal.”
Tuchel, meanwhile, faced increasing pressure before the win, with supporters booing him when his face appeared on screens around the stadium. Saka refused to be drawn on the criticism. “Of course I’d love to have played a bigger part but it’s too late for that,” he said. “I tried to do my talking on the pitch but it’s time to move on. Yeah, I’m fit, I’m fit.”
The result means England finish third, their highest placing since winning the tournament in 1966.