· 2 min readIn this France vs England match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
It was the match nobody wants to play, but once the ball started rolling… neither team wanted it to end. France and England turned the third-place play-off into complete chaos. Open defences, relentless transitions and absolutely no control. It was almost irresponsible football, but incredibly entertaining.
England started as if they were still playing in the semi-finals. In the 3rd minute, Doué misplaced a simple pass, Rice won the ball back, looked up and unleashed a strike from outside the box. Perfectly placed, with no chance for Maignan. 0-1 almost immediately.
And they did not stop there. France looked completely switched off, offering no pressure and no response. England exploited every bit of space they were given. In the 18th minute, Rice delivered a corner and Konsa completely lost Rabiot before heading home unmarked. It was one of those goals that says everything about a team’s defensive concentration. 0-2.
The difference in intensity was enormous. Spence dominated the flank, Rashford constantly caused problems, and France simply watched the game unfold.
Then, in the 36th minute, another blow arrived. England broke quickly, Rashford’s shot was saved by Maignan, but the move stayed alive. After a scramble inside the box, Saka kept battling until he finally found the net. The French defence looked completely lost, unable to clear the danger. 0-3.
There was still time for another before the break. In first-half stoppage time, Eze produced a perfectly weighted through ball, Saka raced onto it, rounded the goalkeeper with composure and rolled the ball into the empty net. 0-4. A brutal scoreline, but one that perfectly reflected what had happened.
It looked over. It was nowhere near over.
France came out for the second half looking like a different team. More aggressive, more direct and, above all, with Mbappé determined to make the comeback his own story.
In the 47th minute, France won the ball back high up the pitch, Olise released Mbappé at exactly the right moment, and the forward finished confidently across goal. Simple, quick and ruthless. 1-4.
Suddenly, the match became emotional. In the 54th minute, Mbappé sent Barcola racing in behind England’s exposed defence, and the striker made no mistake. 2-4. It was no longer just a reaction, it was genuine belief. England started to wobble. They lost control, lost possession and lost confidence.
Then, in the 66th minute, Olise combined brilliantly with Mbappé, who found space on the edge of the box and fired a fierce finish into the net. 3-4. His hat-trick was within touching distance, records were beginning to fall, and the entire match had been turned upside down.
For a long spell, England completely disappeared. The only reason they did not concede an equaliser was because, incredibly, Olise failed to convert every chance that came his way.
Even so, in a match like this, the madness was never going to stop.
In the 87th minute, Spence was brought down inside the penalty area and England were awarded a clear spot-kick. Saka stepped up and completed his hat-trick. 3-5. In any normal match, that would have killed the contest. This match had no interest in being normal.
Deep into stoppage time, in the 96th minute, Dembélé received the ball on the right, cut inside and curled a brilliant finish into the far corner. 4-5. Another moment of pure chaos.
And just when it looked as though France might somehow force an equaliser, England landed the final blow. In the 98th minute, they broke forward at speed, Bellingham drove into the box, calmly beat his defender and finished with complete composure. 4-6.
The final whistle ended one of the most chaotic matches imaginable. There was no control, no balance, but everything that makes football so wonderfully unpredictable. The best match of the 2026 World Cup.
Post-match
A match completely out of control, but one that revealed plenty about both teams’ mentality. England were vastly superior in the first half, switched off far too early and almost paid the ultimate price.
France woke up far too late, but once Mbappé decided to take over, everything changed. Even so, their defending was disastrous throughout. In the end, the team that proved more clinical in the decisive moments deserved the victory.
