STAR WORLD CUP PREVIEW Sat: France v England

France face England in the World Cup bronze medal match at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, on Saturday night in a game nobody really wants to play in, writes JOE CITRONE.

There is only really pride, and also a Golden Boot race, up for grabs here. Mbappe’s tied with Messi on eight goals for the Golden Boot, and with Messi already through to Sunday’s final, this is his last chance to nick it outright.

This has been France’s tournament from the front, right until Spain shut them out cold in the semi. Now it’s his last game in charge of Les Bleus after fourteen years, and you’d fancy his players want to give the old boss one more win before he goes.

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France v England
FIFA World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-Off
22:00 BBC One / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport Website

HEAD-TO-HEAD
DEC 2022 WORLD CUP France 2-1 England
JUN 2017 FRIENDLY France 3-2 England
NOV 2015 FRIENDLY England 2-0 France
NOV 2010 FRIENDLY England 1-2 France
MAR 2008 FRIENDLY France 1-0 England

FRANCE
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 2-0 France
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP France 2-0 Morocco
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Paraguay 0-1 France
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-0 Sweden
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Norway 1-4 France

ENGLAND
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP England 1-2 Argentina
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Norway 1-2 England (AET)
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Mexico 2-3 England
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP England 2-1 Congo DR
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Panama 0-2 England

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England are still reeling from the tactical decisions made by Thomas Tuchel that led to their exit from the World Cup against Argentina. With the temptation surely there to shuffle the pack and give some minutes to those who haven’t featured, it’s hard to know how England may line up here.

But, what we do know is that since 1974, every single third-place play-off has produced two goals or more. Add in two attacks stacked with quality and two defences that might be full of fringe players, and I can’t see this one staying tight.

I’m backing over France and over 2.5 goals at 13/10 with starsports.bet.

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