The World Cup third-place play-off between England and France, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, concluded in a high-scoring 6-4 victory for England. Despite initial sentiments from both sides regarding the significance of the match, it delivered an unexpected thriller.
England manager Thomas Tuchel had expressed reservations about the game, stating that neither his players nor the French players wanted to participate. However, he also acknowledged it as an opportunity for England to achieve their best result in decades. France manager Didier Deschamps, who has been with the team for 14 years, also participated in the match, which some saw as a dignified farewell.
Team Selection and Golden Boot Implications
Tuchel made notable changes to England‘s starting lineup, opting to rest key players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. He cited player fatigue and a shorter recovery period as reasons for their omission, stating, “We have so many kilometers in the legs. We have so many travel kilometers in our bones. We have a day less recovery. We come from 10 men in altitude. We come from overtime here in Miami.” Instead, Ivan Toney started for England.
Conversely, Deschamps chose to start Kylian Mbappe for France. This decision had implications for the Golden Boot race, as Mbappe was level with Lionel Messi on eight goals going into the final weekend of the tournament. Kane and Bellingham were both on six goals.
The match saw Declan Rice open the scoring for England early in the game, followed by Ezri Konsa and a brace from Bukayo Saka, giving England a 4-0 lead at halftime. France mounted a comeback in the second half, with Mbappe scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé also finding the net. Michael Olise assisted Mbappe twice, surpassing Pele‘s assist record from 1970 with a total of seven assists in the tournament. Bellingham, who came on as a substitute, scored England‘s sixth goal.
Mbappe‘s two goals in the third-place play-off moved him ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot standings. This scenario highlights how the third-place play-off can influence individual awards, a point of discussion regarding its status as a “proper” World Cup match.
Deschamps’ Tenure and French Football Federation Plans
Despite France‘s deep runs in recent tournaments, there have been discussions about Deschamps‘ performance. Some, including former teammate Christophe Dugarry, have described his era as a “bluff.” France reached the final of Euro 2016 and won the World Cup in 2018. They were also a penalty shootout away from retaining the World Cup four years later, a match where Mbappe scored a hat-trick.
The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, has indicated that Deschamps‘ successor will be named by the end of the month. Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to take over, having reportedly been waiting for this opportunity for five years. Zidane‘s previous success includes winning the Champions League three consecutive times as coach of Real Madrid.
The Unusual World Cup Final
The upcoming World Cup final is considered unusual due to the pairing of Argentina and Spain, a match-up not seen in a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup. The final also carries a unique narrative as Messi, born in Argentina, will play against the country that played a significant role in his footballing development, Spain. Messi moved to Barcelona at the age of 13, where the club funded his growth hormone treatment.
During his time with Barcelona, Messi contributed to 10 of their La Liga titles and was part of three of their five Champions League-winning teams. He also won five of his seven Ballon d’Or awards while at the club. The final also features Lamine Yamal, who won the Euros two years ago and could potentially lift the World Cup as a teenager. The final is scheduled for 3pm ET, 12pm PT, and 8pm BST.
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Source: nytimes.com
