England defeated France 6-4 to secure third place in the World Cup in a chaotic playoff match on Saturday. Bukayo Saka led the way for England, scoring a hat trick to help his team survive a dramatic second-half comeback. Thomas Tuchel had promised a reaction, which materialized in an incredible first half.
England dominated the opening period, scoring four times against a France team that appeared passive. Goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa, along with two from Saka, provided a commanding early lead.
The second half saw a resurgence from France, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding a strike. Through his performance, Mbappe surpassed Lionel Messi's career World Cup scoring record and took the lead in the Golden Boot race.
The match served as Didier Deschamps' final game in charge of Les Bleus. Despite the late push from France, England held on for the 6-4 victory.