England and France will meet in the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday, with pride, the Golden Boot race and the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign as France coach adding significance to a fixture neither side expected to contest.
The match at the Miami Stadium will be the first meeting between the two countries since France’s 2-1 victory in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
Both teams suffered semi-final heartbreak. France were beaten 2-0 by Spain despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites, while England surrendered a second-half lead to lose 2-1 to defending champions Argentina after Lionel Messi set up goals for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez.
The race for the tournament’s Golden Boot is also at stake for France captain Kylian Mbappé. Messi and Mbappé have scored eight goals each, with Messi leading in assists.
England captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on six goals apiece and could still challenge for the award.
