Speaker 1: The third place game was supposed to be a formality. Instead,
it was one of the most ridiculous games in World
Cup history. England six France four at hard Rock Stadium
in Miami Gardens, Florida. Ten goals, two hat tricks and
a finish so chaotic that it felt like a video game,
not a real football match. Declan Rice scored in the
third minute. England were ahead before most fans had found
their seats. Ezri Concer added a header in the eighteenth minute,
Boukayo Saka scored in the thirty seventh, and then right
before halftime, in the first minute of stoppage time, Sakhar
scored again. England four France zero at halftime against the
team that came into this tournament as favourites. Against Killian
mbap Pay and Antoine Gries marn and Ousman Dembe lay
for zero. Then the second half started and France woke up.
Killian mbap Pay scored in the forty eighth minute, Bradley
Barkohla added another in the fifty fourth. M bat Pay
scored his second in the sixty sixth, and suddenly it
was England four France three. A four goal lead had
been cut to one. In eighteen minutes, England were collapsing again,
the same pattern we saw against Argentina. The defense, which
had been organized in the first half was falling apart.
France were attacking with numbers. M bat Pay was running
at defenders and the game that looked like a blowout
was suddenly a contest. But England found an answer. In
the eighty seventh minute, Bukayo Saka scored from the penalty spot,
his third goal of the game, a hat trick in
the third place playoff, and that penalty restored England's two
goal cushion at five to three. Then, in the sixth
minute of stoppage time, Usman dembe Lay scored for France
five to four. England's lead was back to one and
with time running out, the game was still alive. Then
in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Jude Balingham scored
the final goal, his tenth goal involvement of this tournament.
England six France four, and the final whistle blew two
minutes later. Ten goals, two hat tricks, a four zero
halftime lead that almost evaporated, and the highest scoring third
place game in World Cup history. For England, this is
a bizarre way to end the tournament. They finished third,
which is better than fourth, but after the devastation of
losing to Argentina in the semi final, this game was
an emotional rollercoaster that nobody needed. The first half showed
what England can be when they attack. The second half
showed what England still are when they sit back and
invite pressure. For France, this is a humiliating end to
a tournament where they were supposed to win it all.
Conceding six goals in any game is unacceptable for a
team with France's defensive talent. Conceding six in a third
place playoff against an England team that had just been
emotionally shattered is a sign that Didier de Cham has
serious questions to answer. Killian Mbappey scored twice. He ends
this World Cup with six goals, tied for the Golden Boot,
but his tournament will be remembered for the semi final
against Spain, where he was isolated and frustrated, not for
this goalfest against an England defense that stopped defending in
the second half. Bukayo Sakar's hat trick is the story
of this game. Three goals in a World Cup match,
even a third place match, is a remarkable achievement. Saka
has been one of England's best players in this tournament,
and today he proved why the twenty twenty six World
Cup third place playoff will not be remembered for its stakes,
but it will be remembered for its chaos. Ten goals,
two teams that refused to defend, and a finish that
was wilder than most World Cup finals. Quick note This
show is produced with the help of AI