Neither France nor England envisioned ending their World Cup campaign in the third-place playoff, but Saturday's bronze-medal match in Miami still offers meaningful storylines, with Didier Deschamps coaching France for the final time and Kylian Mbappe chasing another place in tournament history.
Both European powers arrive after painful semifinal defeats that ended their hopes of lifting the trophy.
France were outclassed 2-0 by Spain, while England surrendered an early lead in a 2-1 loss to defending champions Argentina, leaving two disappointed squads to compete for a bronze medal that rarely eases the sting of missing the final.
For France, the occasion marks the end of one of the most successful managerial eras in international football.
Deschamps will take charge of Les Bleus for the last time after 14 years in charge, a reign highlighted by the 2018 World Cup title, a runners-up finish in 2022 and three consecutive World Cup semifinal appearances.
