- 1 France vs England : one last shot at bronze to close out the World Cup
- 2 France want one last win for Deschamps
- 3 England are left with another letdown
- 4 Probable line-ups :
- 5 World Cup 2026 Prediction : France vs England
- 6 First, a word on our predictions
- 7 No commitment from us
- 8 Information moves fast
- 9 Your role
- 10 Responsible gambling first
- 11 Legal age
- 12 About the images
France vs England : one last shot at bronze to close out the World Cup 
This was not the match either side wanted. France and England had their eyes on the final, but they will have to settle for one last date with third place. In Miami, both teams will be trying to avoid finishing the tournament with back-to-back defeats.
France were shut down by Spain in the semi-final. The Three Lions, meanwhile, struck first against Argentina before being hauled back in by the world champions. The fatigue is there, and so is the disappointment. That might weigh heavily on a game that is often tricky to approach mentally.
France want one last win for Deschamps 
Spain were a step too far. After scoring 13 goals before the semi-finals, France produced next to nothing against La Roja. Kylian Mbappe and his team-mates were kept at arm’s length from goal, finished with very few chances and lost 2-0 in a defeat that felt about right.
This third-place play-off will also be Didier Deschamps’ final outing in charge of Les Bleus. He led France to the title in 2018, then back to the final four years later. A bronze medal will not erase the hurt, but it would at least let him sign off with one final win.
William Saliba is a concern. The centre-back came off with a back problem against Spain and will miss this one. Maxence Lacroix could keep his place, while Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano are also in the frame. Up front, Mbappe should keep his spot as he chases the golden boot.
England are left with another letdown
England thought they had finally found the right script. Anthony Gordon put them ahead against Argentina, and Thomas Tuchel’s side looked as if they were keeping the world champions well away from danger. But Lionel Messi eventually found the space to pick out Enzo Fernandez and then Lautaro Martinez.
The exit will sting. The Three Lions were playing in their third World Cup semi-final and still came up short at the gate to the title match. They had already lost the third-place game in 1990 and 2018. A win on Saturday against France, would give them their best finish since the 1966 triumph.
Reece James should miss this final game after a muscle injury. Djed Spence could shift over to the right, but he also looked off at the end of the semi-final, which may open the door for Nico O’Reilly to return on the left. Jude Bellingham remains under the threat of a ban after an incident caught on camera at the end of the semi-final, even though no final decision has been announced.
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Probable line-ups :
France : (to come)
England : (to come)
World Cup 2026 Prediction : France vs England
Under 2.5 goals in the match
A third-place play-off can sometimes open up, but the mood around this one points the other way. France and England are licking their wounds after painful exits and have had little time to recover, physically or mentally. The opening stages could be flat.
France have just shown their limits against a well-drilled defence. They created almost nothing against Spain and could be short on spark again if Didier Deschamps keeps things cautious for his final match. Saliba’s absence should also push the French to protect their back line even more.
England are unlikely to go gung-ho either. Thomas Tuchel has often preferred control throughout the tournament, especially once his side got in front. The Three Lions have scored in their last five matches, but several of their knockout games have been decided by fine margins. With fatigue, forced changes in defence and the fear of ending the tournament with another defeat, a tight, low-scoring contest feels the likeliest outcome. Under 2.5 goals looks the smartest play for this one.
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