KABUL (Pajhwok): England secured third place at the FIFA World Cup with a 6-4 victory over France in an entertaining third-place playoff in Miami on Saturday.
England stormed into a 4-0 lead before halftime through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a brace from Bukayo Saka.
France launched a strong second-half comeback, led by Kylian Mbappé, but could not erase the deficit. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham added England’s sixth goal to seal the victory.
The win earned England the bronze medal, while France finished fourth in the tournament. The match also marked the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France’s head coach.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will conclude on Sunday with the final between Spain and Argentina.
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