England vs France

July 19, 2026 1:03 PM

Didier Deschamps’ golden France era ends in defeat, but legacy intact

The end of coach Didier Deschamps' Midas-like reign turned into a Tantalus torment as France suffered a comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain before losing 6-4 to England in a wild third-place playoff, but those disappointments will not tarnish his legacy. France lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina and have now been beaten by Spain in three straight semi-finals, at Euro 2024, the Nations League and Tuesday's 2-0 World Cup loss. Yet Deschamps, who took charge in 2012 with Fr...

July 19, 2026 12:03 PM

Thomas Tuchel hopes England players will look back on FIFA World Cup with pride

England manager Thomas Tuchel said he hoped his players would one day look back on finishing third at the World Cup with some pride, despite falling short of their goal of winning the tournament. A 6-4 win over France in a frenetic third-place playoff at Miami Stadium on Saturday gave England their best finish at a World Cup since their only triumph when they hosted the tournament in 1966. "It's the first medal for 60 years, the best World Cup on foreign soil. So I hope that the players can be...

July 19, 2026 11:59 AM

Didier Deschamps takes responsibility for unacceptable first half in last game in charge of France

Didier Deschamps took responsibility for France's "unacceptable" first-half collapse in a 6-4 defeat by England on Saturday as his extraordinary 14-year reign as national team coach ended in painful fashion. France trailed 4-0 at halftime in the World Cup third-place playoff before mounting a spirited recovery, but their late rally was not enough to prevent Deschamps' 185th and final match in charge from ending in a loss. "It is a defeat, but we were 4-0 down. We produced an unacceptable first...

July 19, 2026 11:49 AM

France’s Kylian Mbappe becomes FIFA World Cup’s all-time top scorer

France striker Kylian Mbappe became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals when he netted twice in Les Bleus' 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place game on Saturday. The 27-year-old leapfrogged Argentina's Lionel Messi (21), who is due to play in Sunday's final against Spain, and although that will almost certainly be his rival's last World Cup game, Mbappe will probably play in at least one more global tournament. Mbappe finished his third World Cup campaign with 10 goals to...

July 19, 2026 11:03 AM

England survive France fightback and secure third place in World Cup goalfest

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England held off a stunning France fightback to claim a 6-4 victory in a madcap Miami thriller on Saturday, securing third place for their best World Cup finish since their sole title triumph in 1966. In a match of two halves where defending was a second thought, Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become the all-time World Cup top scorer as France battled back from 4-0 down at halftime to come within a handful of missed chances of equalising. Saka completed his hat...