England take World Cup third place after 6-4 thriller against France

England secured third place at the World Cup with a 6-4 win over France, their first medal at the tournament in 60 years and their first on foreign soil. Bukayo Saka scored three times, while Jude Bellingham came off the bench to add the final England goal.

Thomas Tuchel’s side had led 4-0 at half-time after goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and two from Saka, but France turned the match into a far closer contest after the break. Kylian Mbappé scored as part of France’s response, reaching 10 goals for the tournament and 22 overall in World Cup play, before Ousmane Dembélé made it 5-4 in stoppage time.

Tuchel framed the result as a step forward rather than a moment for full celebration, pointing to the pain of missing the final while also saying the squad should eventually take pride in what they achieved. He also said England still need to improve their game management, decision-making under pressure and defensive efficiency.

The match also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ long spell in charge of France. The source reports that Zinedine Zidane is poised to succeed him, but that succession detail remains one to verify before treating it as confirmed.