{"id":585,"date":"2026-07-17T20:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suresttips.com\/blog\/?p=585"},"modified":"2026-07-17T20:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:19:17","slug":"france-vs-england-nobody-wants-this-game-but-everybody-will-watch-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suresttips.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/17\/france-vs-england-nobody-wants-this-game-but-everybody-will-watch-it\/","title":{"rendered":"France vs England – Nobody Wants This Game But Everybody Will Watch It"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tournament: Fifa World Cup 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Stage: Third Place Playoffs – Bronze Final<\/span><\/p>\n

Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida<\/span><\/p>\n

Kick Off: 5pm ET \/ 10pm BST<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lets Get Started<\/b><\/h2>\n

France vs England will be facing each other for the 3rd place, neither France nor England wanted to be here. Both came to this <\/span>World Cup<\/span><\/a> to win it. France wanted a third world title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

England wanted to end 60 years of hurt. Neither happened. Instead they meet in Miami on Saturday in the game nobody asks for but everybody ends up watching the third place playoff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there are real stakes on the line that make this much more than just a consolation match.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Both Teams Got Here<\/b><\/h2>\n

France<\/b> dominated this tournament from start to finish until Spain stopped them cold in the semi finals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They beat Senegal, Iraq, and thrashed Norway 4-1 in the group stage. They then swept past Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then came Spain and a 2-0 defeat that left the whole French camp stunned. It was their worst attacking performance in 60 years with just 0.3 xG against La Roja.<\/span><\/p>\n

England<\/b> had the most dramatic journey of anyone left in this tournament. Three comeback wins in three knockout games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca with ten men. They came from behind to beat Norway after extra time in the quarter finals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then Argentina broke their hearts in the semi finals with Lautaro Martinez scoring a late winner to make it 2-1 after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead. So close. So painful.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Head to Head<\/b><\/h2>\n

France have the better recent record. England have won just one of their last nine games against France.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their last World Cup meeting came in 2022 when France won 2-1 in the quarter finals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Saturday is a fresh game on a neutral ground and England have shown they can beat anyone at this tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Players to Watch<\/b><\/h2>\n

Kylian Mbappe – France\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

is on eight goals and is level with Messi in the Golden Boot race but behind on assists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Messi plays in the final the following day. If Mbappe scores on Saturday and Messi does not in the final the Golden Boot is his. That motivation alone makes him the most dangerous player on the pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harry Kane – England\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

is on six goals and is playing his last World Cup at 32. He has scored in every knockout round and will want to end this tournament with a bang.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jude Bellingham – England\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

is also on six goals and has been the most exciting player of England’s entire campaign. At just 22 he has announced himself to the world at this tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Match Facts at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Factor<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

France<\/b><\/td>\n\n

England<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Stage<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Third Place Playoff<\/span><\/td>\nThird Place Playoff<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Semi Final Exit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Lost to Spain 2-0<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Lost to Argentina 2-1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Top Scorer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Mbappe \u2014 8 goals<\/span><\/td>\nKane and Bellingham \u2014 6 goals each<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

World Cup Titles<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

2<\/span><\/td>\n\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Last World Cup Meeting<\/span><\/td>\nWon 2-1 in 2022<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Lost 2-1 in 2022<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Head to Head Last 9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Won 6 Drew 2 Lost 1<\/span><\/td>\nWon 1 Drew 2 Lost 6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kick Off<\/span><\/td>\nSaturday 5pm ET<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Saturday 10pm BST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Venue<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Miami Stadium Florida<\/span><\/td>\n\n

Miami Stadium Florida<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n

How to Watch<\/b><\/h2>\n

USA:<\/b> Fox Sports \u2014 Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish<\/span>
\n<\/span>UK:<\/b> ITV1 and ITVX \u2014 Free to watch<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our Predictions<\/b><\/h2>\n

Both teams have genuine reasons to perform. Mbappe wants the Golden Boot. Kane wants one last big moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

France want to honour their departing manager Didier Deschamps in his final game in charge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

England wants third place and their best World Cup finish in 60 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Goals are coming. From both sides.<\/span><\/p>\n