Match day predictions

ANDRE LOWE, JOURNALIST

This is a match that neither team wanted to be a part of and none will be enthused about playing for what will ultimately be a quickly forgotten third-place finish. The focus will likely be individual targets and the opportunity to give playing time to squad members who have not seen much of the field.

France must be seen as favourites here mainly because their attacking ceiling still looks higher. Using your tournament numbers, they arrive with 16 goals — Kylian Mbappé on eight, and they also boast a cleaner defensive record than England, who have conceded eight and looked too passive after leading Argentina in the semi-final. It’s left to be seen who will take the field but France can rely on a deeper, more talented squad than England and this should ultimately result in a something close to a 2-1 victory for Les Bleus.

BRIAN PITTER, JOURNALIST

The third-place play-off is always one of the hardest matches to predict because neither team really wants to be there. France and England came into this World Cup believing they could lift the trophy, so missing out on the final will still hurt.

Brian Pitter

That means this game could go one of two ways. We either get two emotionally drained teams going through the motions, or we get two sides determined to prove they deserved better.

I actually think it’ll be the latter.

One of the biggest reasons is the race for the Golden Boot. Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé still have plenty to play for individually. Neither will want to leave this tournament empty-handed, and both will be eager to add to their goal tallies. That could open the game up, with both teams committing players forward instead of simply settling for third place.

These are also two squads packed with attacking talent, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.

Rachid Parchment

I’m expecting goals at both ends, and in the end, I think France edge it in a thriller. My prediction: France 4, England 3.

RACHID PARCHMENT, JOURNALIST

This is a game that very few people will be concerned about, including most of the players. Perhaps, you may see Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Ousmane Dembélé all feature as all four are chasing the Golden Ball trophy but, otherwise, I expect two heavily rotated squads just playing this game out of sheer duty.

Motivation should be low since both had real intentions of winning the World Cup and this is merely a consolation prize that will do no consoling.

This is Didier Deschamps’ last game as France manager and possibly Thomas Tuchel’s last with England. I don’t expect either to be too fussed about the result here. I think France will possibly win this 3-2.