England secured third place at the World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France, while Kylian Mbappe became the tournament's all-time leading scorer in Didier Deschamps' final match as Les Bleus manager. The Three Lions stormed into a 4-0 half-time lead as Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka, with two goals, punished a disorganised French defence.
France improved after the break following defensive changes from Deschamps, with Mbappe beginning the comeback before Bradley Barcola cut the deficit further. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to restore England's control, before Mbappe struck again to take his World Cup tally to 22 goals. Ousmane Dembele pulled another back in stoppage time, but Jude Bellingham responded immediately with England's sixth.
Mbappe's double leaves him two goals clear of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and one ahead of the Argentina captain in the all-time World Cup scoring charts before Sunday's final against Spain. France winger Michael Olise also set a new tournament record with his seventh assist, surpassing Pele's mark from 1970, as Deschamps bowed out after 185 matches in charge.
England vs France latest news
- GOAL! Stunning solo Bellingham strike seal win
- GOAL! Dembele gives France hope again
- GOAL! Saka completes hat-trick from penalty spot
- GOAL! Mbappe scores his 10th tournament goal
- GOAL! Barcola halves the deficit
- GOAL! Mbappe begins the comeback
00:30 , Alex Young
England finish third at the 2026 World Cup.
00:24 , Alex Young
Harry Kane getting his medal.
00:23 , Alex Young
A lovely moment as the England squad make sure Jason Steele, not part of the squad but has been helping the keepers, on the stage and give him a bronze medal.
00:20 , Alex Young
England are now queuing up to get their bronze medals.
00:10 , Alex Young
Not sure I have ever seen a player like Jude Bellingham before. Not for England. Not at a World Cup.
Full-time
00:06 , Alex Young
99min: That was the last kick of the game. Utterly barmy game.
GOAL!
00:02 , Alex Young
98min: JUDE BELLINGHAM.
JUDE. BELLINGHAM.
A sensational solo effort to seal the win. He is on another level.
GOAL!
00:00 , Alex Young
96min: There’s France’s fourth! Upamecano plays in Dembele, who cuts inside and bends one home.
They have about a minute to find a fifth and force extra time!
England 5-3 France
23:58 , Alex Young
95min: Spence is down and really struggling, but England have made all of their subs.
England 5-3 France
23:56 , Alex Young
93min: A lovely moment as Chalobah is replaced by Guehi for his first minutes of the tournament.
England 5-3 France
23:54 , Alex Young
91min: Seven minutes added on. You wouldn’t rule out at least one more goal.
Kounde is on for France, replacing Gusto.
England 5-3 France
23:53 , Alex Young
90min: What a ridiculous, ridiculous game.
GOAL!
23:50 , Alex Young
87min: Bellingham hands the ball to Saka, who completes his hat-trick!
PENALTY TO ENGLAND!
23:49 , Alex Young
85min: Spence fouled by Gusto.
Bellingham to take...
England 4-3 France
23:47 , Alex Young
84min: Konsa is replaced by James.
This second half has absolutely flown by.
England 4-3 France
23:46 , Alex Young
83min: Reece James is being readied.
England 4-3 France
23:44 , Alex Young
80min: Somehow England don’t score! Somehow France don’t score!
What a game!
Bellingham and then Rogers are denied from inside the six-yard box, and then Olise sends yet another shot wide with the goal gaping.
He’s missed a hat-trick of sitters.
England 4-3 France
23:42 , Alex Young
79min: Here come Bellingham and Anderson.
Toney and Eze make way.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
23:41 , Alex Young
Put simply, England look shattered and are clinging on here.
England 4-3 France
23:41 , Alex Young
78min: Bellingham is being readied.
England 4-3 France
23:39 , Alex Young
76min: Mbappe wants a penalty for dragging down Rogers. Not a chance.
England 4-3 France
23:38 , Alex Young
75min: Olise with another huge chance, side-footing from the edge of the area to see his shot spin wide.
He could - perhaps should - have two to his name.
England 4-3 France
23:35 , Alex Young
73min: Back underway. Will England hold on?
23:33 , Alex Young
69min: Hydration break, which might be good timing for England.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
23:33 , Alex Young
England are in serious trouble of losing an almighty four-goal lead in this third-place play-off now.
Mbappe finishes ruthlessly and hits ten goals in a single World Cup. England looking tired and in need of fresh legs.
GOAL!
23:30 , Alex Young
66min: There’s the third!
Mbappe slots home his second and the comeback is well and truly on!
A beautiful goal, linking up with Olise.
England 4-2 France
23:27 , Alex Young
64min: Now Dembele has mis-hit a shot with the goal gaping!
France should be level, 20 minutes after going four goals down.
CHANCE!
23:24 , Alex Young
61min: A huge, huge let-off for England as Olise fires wide from the edge of the area with half the goal gaping.
And he’s missed by a distance!
SAVE!
23:23 , Alex Young
59min: Maignan with a smart stop to deny Toney with a header!
England 4-2 France
23:22 , Alex Young
59min: Spence breaks over the half-line line and drives into the area, but Upamecano does well to get a foot in to concede a corner.
England 4-2 France
23:20 , Alex Young
57min : Almost a third for France as Dembele runs through and is denied by Henderson, but the offside flag is eventually raised.
GOAL!
23:17 , Alex Young
54min: There’s the second!
Barcola runs through, around Konsa, and fires inside the near post.
England 4-1 France
23:17 , Alex Young
53min: This is all France now.
I can only imagine how angry Deschamps was at half-time.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
23:14 , Alex Young
The comeback begins? Mbappe edges ahead of Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot with nine goals in this tournament as England lose their cleansheet.
It was Watkins who lose possession in the lead-up.
GOAL!
23:11 , Alex Young
48min: That’s one back!
Mbappe fires home his ninth goal of the tournament to take the lead in the Golden Boot race!
Beautiful defence-splitting pass from Olise.
Second half!
23:09 , Alex Young
Just the four changes for France! Digne, Upamecano, Barcola and Dembele are all on.
For England, Watkins is on for Rashford.
23:06 , Alex Young
England and France players in no rush to get back underway.
Anthony Barry to BBC Sport
23:02 , Alex Young
“No frustration [at what could have been]. I'm a little bit emotional. I can't find the words to describe just how proud I am of these players.
“They're playing a game with broken hearts. I see 11 lads out on the field with broken hearts.
“I've seen them in the hotel the last few days with broken hearts.
“And they can build a performance like that just through pride of playing for England.
“The team spirit we built the last seven weeks, it's just been a privilege to watch.
“I know the cynics will say it's too late, but we are still playing against the world-class opponent.
“I'm so proud of the boys. Of course, there's 45 minutes to go. The game's not done. Anything can happen.
“But in isolation, I'm proud of the team, and hopefully, everyone back home is as well.”
22:58 , Alex Young
Anthony Barry, England assistant, has just conducted a very emotional half-time interview.
He spoke his his pride in the players, who had “broken hearts” after defeat to Argentina. Full quotes to come.
ICYMI: What can England win if they beat France in bronze final?
22:55 , Alex Young
The third-place play-off is often described as a match nobody wants to play in, with the final obviously preferred, but the match is not a total dead rubber.
For one thing, the bronze final’s victor stands to benefit from FIFA’s expanded prize fund for this World Cup. The winner will net themselves £21.5million in prize money, while the loser will only take home £20m.
The third-place finisher will also take home a clutch of bronze medals. There is no trophy available for either side to take home.
England have never won the third-place play-off in two previous attempts, losing to Belgium in 2018 and Italy in 1990.
Half-time!
22:50 , Alex Young
50min: Half-time. What on earth.
England 4-0 France
22:49 , Alex Young
49min: Toney runs into the area and wins a corner.
I just keep thinking ‘what if?’.
GOAL!
22:47 , Alex Young
47min: This is staggering. It’s a thrashing and it’s not even half-time.
Saka again, running through and slotting home after being set up by Eze.
France chasing shadows.
England 3-0 France
22:46 , Alex Young
45min: Four minutes added on, somehow.
England 3-0 France
22:42 , Alex Young
42min: Almost a fourth for England as Toney cannot get a touch on Rashford’s pass across the six-yard box.
England 3-0 France
22:42 , Alex Young
41min: France look entirely nonplussed. Out of ideas and lacking in any real effort.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
22:39 , Alex Young
England three up and looking like World Cup finalists in this... third-place play-off.
Saka's initial ball through to Rashford was so intelligent and exactly what was called for.
GOAL!
22:38 , Alex Young
37min: It’s THREE for England!
Rashford runs through on goal, is denied. Saka runs on to the rebound, is also denied. Rashford then pounces on the rebound and tees up Saka to slot home!
England 2-0 France
22:36 , Alex Young
35min: Now it’s Mbappe’s turn to be denied as Henderson makes a super stop from inside the area.
England 2-0 France
22:34 , Alex Young
33min: A lovely long-range effort from Rashford, which Maigan has to palm over the bar.
That would have been a peach
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
22:33 , Alex Young
France have definitely been growing into the game, since before the Konsa goal in truth. But England looking pretty assured and working hard on the counter-press. Rashford seems up for it.
England 2-0 France
22:30 , Alex Young
30min: England are sitting back somewhat. Penny for Tuchel’s thoughts.
OFF THE LINE (and offside)
22:29 , Alex Young
28min: Doue releases Mbappe into the area, who just about flicks the ball over Henderson but is denied by Guehi on the line... and then the offside flag is raised.
That is very tight.
England 2-0 France
22:26 , Alex Young
27min: Back underway.
England 2-0 France
22:25 , Alex Young
25min: Time for a rehydrating break.
England 2-0 France
22:23 , Alex Young
23min: Mbappe with another sighter, trying to whip a shot from the edge of the area.
Henderson had that covered.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
22:22 , Alex Young
That's only the second goal England have scored from a corner at this World Cup.
The first came in the very first game and was assisted by Rice and scored by Kane. This time Rice's deft delivery is flicked in by Konsa.
GOAL!
22:19 , Alex Young
19min: England are cruising!
Rice whips in the corner and Konsa, basically unmarked, nods in. So, so easy!
England 1-0 France
22:18 , Alex Young
18min: Saka again sent through but this time Lacroix gets back in time to smother the shot.
England 1-0 France
22:15 , Alex Young
15min: France win their first corner, Guehi denying Mbappe, but don’t do a whole lot with it.
Dom Smith in Miami
22:14 , Alex Young
There is no denying England have started this game the better team, though, and still have that advantage to show for it.
NO GOAL!
22:13 , Alex Young
12min: Saka thinks he has cut inside and fired home a second for England, but he’s a good yard offside.
England 1-0 France
22:12 , Alex Young
11min: We have a good game on our hands.
France finally do get to the edge England’s area as Cherki stings Henderson’s palms, and then Zaire-Emiery’s effort to closed down.
England 1-0 France
22:10 , Alex Young
10min: Gusto fouls Eze near the corner flag. So needless.
It gives Rice the chance to float one in, which he does into the six-yard box but Lacroix heads away.
England 1-0 France
22:09 , Alex Young
8min: First chance for Mbappe, who looks set to race down on goal but after a few touches he forgets to bring the ball with him.
A warning for England.
England 1-0 France
22:08 , Alex Young
5min: It’s been a very impressive start from England, who work the ball to Rashford in the air, after Eze misses the ball, but his shot is blocked.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
22:06 , Alex Young
Superb goal from Declan Rice, a player who has looked knackered all tournament.
One of England's best solo goals of the World Cup. Frustrating in a way.
It is also Declan Rice's very first goal in a major tournament.
GOAL!
22:03 , Alex Young
3min: Well, well, well!
Rice have a ROCKET from the edge of the area, to give England an early lead!
Kick-off!
22:00 , Alex Young
1min: Here we go!
21:56 , Alex Young
For one final time at this World Cup, the English national anthem.
21:52 , Alex Young
Here come the players.
21:51 , Alex Young
Almost time for kick-off.
Seems strange that England are taking on France at a World Cup, but the setting is so low key.
21:47 , Alex Young
Tuchel’s name and picture has just been booed inside the Miami Stadium.
Gunning for the Golden Boot
21:42 , Alex Young
Kylian Mbappe is gunning for the Golden Boot. He’s currently tied on eight goals for Lionel Messi, who plays tomorrow night of course, but the Argentine has one more assist to his name which puts him ahead in the rankings.
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
21:35 , Alex Young
A feature of this World Cup, so many England fans who are almost definitely not English and French fans who almost certainly aren't French are being flashed up on the big screen.
I've seen lots of rogue shirts, too, including Arsenal, Tottenham, (a lot of) Colombia, Mexico and River Plate.
Ivan Toney to BBC Sport
21:25 , Alex Young
"It has been tough. Obviously, we all thought it was the one, but unfortunately it wasn't.
"We have to regroup, and we have to pick ourselves up and try to finish the tournament on a high.
"I have always been hungry for this opportunity. It was frustrating. I only got a few minutes, but that is how football goes sometimes.
"Now is my chance to prove I should have got more minutes. There's a lot of goals in the team and on the bench.
"Hopefully, we can bring goals, and hopefully we can finish the tournament on a win."
Who is the referee?
21:15 , Alex Young
Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela will take charge of proceedings between England and France.
He will be assisted by fellow Venezuelans Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno, with Morocco’s Jalal Jayed serving as the fourth official. Zakaria Brinsi - also of Morocco - will be the reserve assistant.
Valenzuela has emerged as one of the top referees in South America over the last decade and received the IFFHS world's best referee from CONMEBOL in 2021, further elevating his profile.
Due to mainly officiating in international competitions such as the Copa America and CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers as well as club tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, it means Valenzuela hasn’t crossed paths with England and France players too often during his career.
He was, however, the referee when England drew with the USA and when France beat Poland in the group stage at Qatar 2022, awarding a late penalty against Dayot Upamecano for handball. In addition, he was the fourth official when France beat Morocco in the World Cup semi-final four years ago.
Valenzuela has, though, shown Reece James a yellow card. This was last summer during the World Club Cup when Chelsea beat Los Angeles 2-0.
At the World Cup so far, Valenzuela has overseen Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar and Australia vs Turkey in the group stage as well as Norway’s round of 32 win over Ivory Coast.
21:07 , Alex Young
Our man in Miami.
At the World Cup final. One of them pic.twitter.com/AtpfdtaHgt
— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) July 18, 2026
France team news in full
21:01 , Alex Young
France XI: Maignan; Gusto, Konate, Lacroix, Theo Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Rabiot; Olise, Cherki, Doue; Mbappe
Subs: Samba, Risser, Thuram, Kounde, Mateta, Digne, Upamecano, Saliba, Dembele, Kante, Barcola, Kone, Tchouameni, Lucas Hernandez, Akliouche
France XI
20:55 , Alex Young
...and Les Bleus!
Une dernière bataille. Un dernier objectif. 🥉👊
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) July 18, 2026
Voici les 11 Bleus qui débuteront la petite finale face à l’Angleterre 🏴
23h00 sur M6 & beIN SPORTS 1 📺#FRAANG | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/r9mkEWbG9p
Mbappe message to Deschamps
20:48 , Alex Young
This is a lovely touch from Kylian Mbappe, sending a messaging to outgoing Didier Deschamps.
It reads: “Today is your last dance.
“You who gave us so much. We should have offered you a better ending, but we failed.
“Putting words to what you brought over 14 years is very difficult, so major an actor were you in the revival of this team. People haven't always known how to appreciate your greatness, but time and history will take care of that…
“Thank you for giving me the chance and opportunity to represent my country on the biggest stage for so many years.
“I feel privileged to have been able to stand alongside one of the greatest legends of our country, and I hold only excellent memories of everything we lived through and accomplished together.
“I wish you the best in your new adventure, and thank you again for everything you brought to this jersey that means so much to us.”
Aujourd’hui est ta dernière danse.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 18, 2026
Toi qui nous as tant donné.
Nous aurions dû t’offrir une meilleure fin, mais nous avons échoué.
Mettre des mots sur ce que tu as apporté pendant 14 ans est très difficile, tant tu as été un acteur majeur du renouveau de cette équipe. Les gens… pic.twitter.com/uGQIWqodgv
Dom Smith at Miami Stadium
20:43 , Alex Young
A very heavily rotated England line-up here in Miami, where sources say Kobbie Mainoo is ruled out due to an injury.
Dean Henderson earns a World Cup and major tournament debut in goal. Kane and Bellingham spared the starts and begin on the bench.
Ivan Toney starting ahead of Ollie Watkins.
20:42 , Alex Young
No space for Kobbie Mainoo in the squad, so he will not play a single minute at the World Cup.
England team news in full
20:41 , Alex Young
England XI: D Henderson; Konsa, Quansah, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Rogers, Eze; Saka, Rashford; Toney
Subs: Pickford, Trafford, O’Reilly, Stones, Anderson, Kane, Bellingham, Chalobah, J Henderson, Burn, Gordon, Watkins, Madueke, James
England XI
20:36 , Alex Young
Here we go!
Our XI to face France 💪 pic.twitter.com/UexpADmHPr
— England (@England) July 18, 2026
What do England win if they beat France in bronze final?
20:30 , Alex Young
The third-place play-off is often described as a match nobody wants to play in, with the final obviously preferred, but the match is not a total dead rubber.
For one thing, the bronze final’s victor stands to benefit from FIFA’s expanded prize fund for this World Cup. The winner will net themselves £21.5million in prize money, while the loser will only take home £20m.
The third-place finisher will also take home a clutch of bronze medals. There is no trophy available for either side to take home.
England have never won the third-place play-off in two previous attempts, losing to Belgium in 2018 and Italy in 1990.
'This game should be scrapped'
20:20 , Alex Young
That’s the spirit, Mikael Silvestre!
The former French footballer has been discussing the Golden Boot race, and the merits of this bronze final.
"It’s hard for a player to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup if their team doesn't win as a collective first,” he told Grosvenor Sport. Treating the Golden Boot as a worthy prize instead of lifting the World Cup is nonsense.
"Kylian Mbappe remains the captain of France and of course we want him to do well but it’s not like the Olympics. It is very difficult to raise yourself again for the third place game. I think it’s a game that should be scrapped for future World Cup tournaments, to be honest.
"The only interest is whether Mbappe can win in the Golden Boot race but that is very much secondary. Maybe for Kylian it is important but for the French people, without the World Cup trophy, it doesn’t have the same meaning."
'I don't want anyone to cry'
20:12 , Alex Young
Didier Deschamps’ final match as France head coach is tonight, ending 14 years in charge with a third-place play-off rather than a third successive World Cup final.
“I have the duty as a head coach to do everything I can to reach the objective,” the 2018 World Cup winning coach told reporters ahead of tonight’s game.
“I hope that we do, and we must display all the efforts to do so..
“I know that it’s the last match and I don’t want anybody to cry, and I don’t think anybody here will cry,” he added.
“I had the privilege to go through amazing moments and to go also through some more difficult moments, so the end is coming near but life goes on.
“I don’t know what it’ll be made of but I’m usually a positive person, and I know that it will be great too.
“The French national team, with everything that it entails in my professional life, is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me.”
'I wouldn’t sack Thomas Tuchel, he needs more time'
20:05 , Alex Young
Chris Waddle hopes the FA stick by Thomas Tuchel, insisting the England manager’s tactics were not to blame during the defeat to Argentina.
"I’m disappointed with how England lost to Argentina,” he told OLBG. “It's very easy to criticise the coach but for me the players didn't react to how Argentina upped the tempo.
"In the last couple of games, when he changed to five at the back in the previous games everybody said it was great tactics ... I’m not sure it’s fully on him for trying the same thing again.
"For me the players who played well in the first half ran out of steam, and Argentina managed the game perfectly, so they were able to finish stronger, with more energy.
"We had no out ball. We should have left Anthony Gordon up top, with Harry Kane as a 10 and Jude Bellingham back in midfield, with the wing-backs going forward too.
"I wouldn’t sack Tuchel though, or want him to move on. I think he is a great manager who needs a bit more time, to hopefully achieve something."
Tuchel responds to England 'blame game'
19:55 , Alex Young
Thomas Tuchel said he will not engage with the “blame game” after England’s World Cup exit and would “never” let a change in public opinion cause him to walk away from the job.
The England head coach retains the backing of the FA and is contracted through to the end of Euro 2028. despite coming in for criticism for the substitutions he made and the tactical approach of his team once they took the lead in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Supporters were left frustrated that Tuchel, hired to get England over the line, was unable to deliver silverware at his first tournament with England.
He has even come in for criticism from US president Donald Trump, who questioned why he had made captain Harry Kane — who the president has played golf against — a “defensive player” after Gordon’s goal.
Tuchel, asked about this, snapped: “Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case, or? I was just asking.”
Why is there a World Cup bronze final?
19:47 , Alex Young
The short answer is revenue, as a third-place play-off gives FIFA another game in which to drive ticket sales, while broadcasters can sell advertising spots in exchange for showing the game.
The third-place play-off also has an impact on the global rankings and gives players an opportunity to restore some pride and end their tournament on a high.
For some players, like Mbappe, the third-place play-off offers a chance to win personal accolades such as the Golden Boot or the Golden Glove.
The first third-place play-off was introduced in 1934, the second edition of the World Cup, with Germany beating Austria 3-2.
Before that, at the 1930 edition, third place was decided on goal difference.
There was no third-place play-off in 1954, with FIFA opting for a round-robin format for the first World Cup after World War 2.
The third-place play-off was then reintroduced in 1954 and has remained part of the tournament ever since.
FIFA announced in 2026 that they would call the third-place play-off the Bronze final.
What the experts think: Heskey and Petit
19:40 , Alex Young
Emile Heskey: France are deadly – but England can beat them
"France were my favourites going into the tournament, and are still my favourites now [for the third place playoff]. It's hard to look past them. They are eye-catching, easy to watch, and deadly.
"That said, I think we'd give them a good run and could beat them on our day. Defensively we'd have to be very solid, but attacking-wise I see goals. I don't think they could stop us from scoring, though I can see them scoring as well."
Emmanuel Petit: Every time France have played against England they have struggled
"Every time we played against England recently, we struggled. When we won 2-1, England were better than France, but we won it. It is very difficult to predict that game.
"I believe in our weapons up front. We have quality in the back and midfield, but our strikers are unbelievable and can break any defence."
The pair were speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest World Cup odds.
Latest odds
19:32 , Alex Young
The bookies agree with us, with France the clear favourites to win tonight.
- France: 10/11
- Draw: 29/10
- England: 29/10
Method of Victory odds
- Either Team in Extra Time: 13/2
- Either Team in Penalty Shootout: 5/1
- France in Extra Time: 10/1
- England in Extra Time: 17/1
- France in Penalty Shootout: 9/1
- England in Penalty Shootout - 10/1
(Odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Score prediction
19:25 , Alex Young
Both sides have arguably the best depth in the whole tournament, and yet they find themselves in the newly-named ‘Bronze final’.
In reality, a matchup in the final against France would have been seen as ominous for Tuchel’s men, but now, perhaps against a rotated side and with emotions high amid Deschamps’ imminent departure, there could be a chance to get one over their familiar foes.
It seems unlikely that this will break out into an all-time classic given how low the stakes are in comparison to Sunday’s showpiece, but there is still plenty of quality within either sides’ reserve ranks to produce an entertaining encounter.
France to win, 2-1.
Early France team news
19:18 , Alex Young
The same can be said for France.
There are plenty of bodies in Les Bleus’ squad that will be crying out for some game time, with Deschamps not one to rotate heavily during the competition.
Now, however, he could be tempted to experiment one last time before he hands over the reins.
The likes of Brice Samba or Robin Risser could get the nod over Mike Maignan in goal, while Chelsea’s Malo Gusto could get a run-out at full-back.
William Saliba was forced off with a back injury against Spain in a major blow for Arsenal, and Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, who replaced him in Texas, could get a start here.
Lucas Hernandez is another that has been starved of minutes, while N’Golo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery and Maghnes Akliouche will all want to put themselves in the spotlight for the incoming new boss.
Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram will also be hoping for a rare start, perhaps giving the five stars - Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele - a rest.
Early England team news
19:11 , Alex Young
How do the Three Lions approach this game?
There are players in Tuchel’s cohort that have not even played a minute at this tournament, the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Kobbie Mainoo, Dean Henderson and James Trafford.
Declan Rice could well be one of the names that is rested after struggling with lower back and hamstring injuries throughout the campaign, and he also battled illness before (and during) the Norway and Argentina matches.
Reece James, who returned to action in the last four, is another that is unlikely to feature here amid his own hamstring troubles.
That could mean a return to the side for Jarell Quansah, fresh off his two-match ban for his red card at the Estadio Azteca, while fringe players at this tournament, the likes of Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, could all get some minutes under their belt.
Where to watch
19:04 , Alex Young
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 9.30pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer app or the channel’s website.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer app and their websites.
England vs France LIVE
18:59 , Alex Young
Good evening and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the World Cup bronze final between England and France.
The game no team wants to play is the penultimate match of a record-breaking tournament. Kick-off at the Miami Stadium is at 10pm.
Stick with us.
