England and France Play for World Cup Bronze in Miami
Nobody wants to be here. That is the honest truth about the World Cup third-place match, and neither England nor France has been particularly subtle about it. Both teams would rather be in New Jersey preparing for Sunday’s final against Argentina or Spain.
Instead, they are in Miami on Saturday afternoon, playing for bronze in a match that history suggests will be remembered more for the narratives surrounding it than for the football itself.
Deschamps’ final France game
The biggest story heading into today’s match at Miami Stadium has nothing to do with goals or tactics. Didier Deschamps will manage France for the last time, closing out a 14-year tenure that produced back-to-back World Cup final appearances, a 2018 title, and a generation-defining era for Les Bleus. When the final whistle blows this afternoon, Zinedine Zidane is expected to take over, a handover from one French football icon to another that has been anticipated for years.
Deschamps was typically measured at his pre-match press conference. “I have the duty as a head coach to do everything I can to reach tomorrow’s objective,” he said, promising changes to his lineup while confirming that Kylian Mbappe would be available. Whether he plays from the start or comes off the bench, his presence changes the nature of the match entirely.
Mbappé enters today tied with Lionel Messi on eight goals, the joint-leading scorers of the entire tournament. Messi holds the tiebreaker with one more assist, which means Mbappé needs to outscore him today while Messi scores nothing in Sunday’s final to claim the Golden Boot outright.
England’s wounds
England arrived in Miami still processing from Wednesday night in Atlanta. The manner of their exit, leading 1-0 with thirty minutes to go, dropping deeper and deeper until Argentina’s relentless pressure found a way through twice in the final seven minutes, has dominated the conversation since the final whistle.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has faced pointed criticism for the decision to sit back and defend, and the question of whether Wednesday was his last match in charge of the Three Lions hangs over today’s game.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham combined for twelve goals during this tournament, and their partnership has been one of the genuine revelations of the summer. A strong showing today and a bronze medal finish would at least give England its best finish at a World Cup in 60 years.