France and England brace for subdued World Cup bronze match in Miami

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — France and England play each other on Saturday in Miami in the World Cup third-place fixture, a contest neither side wanted after painful semi-final exits.

Both squads arrive in Florida still absorbing defeats that many observers traced largely to their own failings. France, widely seen as the strongest side through the quarter-finals, offered little against Spain’s disciplined plan on Tuesday and fell 0-2. A day later in Atlanta, England let a lead and control slip and lost 1-2 to Argentina, extending a familiar World Cup narrative of near misses.

They must now dig into depleted energy and appetite for a fixture that draws little affection across the game.

“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said after the semi-final. “They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is. “We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”

The occasion also closes a chapter for Didier Deschamps, who is leaving the France job when the tournament ends. Like Tuchel, he has drawn sharp criticism over choices that shaped the semi-final reverse. At 57, he wraps up a 14-year tenure that brought the 2018 world title, a runners-up finish in Qatar in 2022, and another last-four run this time.

“There’s a third-place finish to play for, so we’ll do everything we can to get it,” Deschamps said after the Spain loss. “We’re not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment matches our ambitions, but we have to accept it. We have no other choice.”

Even so, the match could sway the Golden Boot. France captain Kylian Mbappe shares the scoring lead with Argentina’s Lionel Messi on eight goals and will hope to add more against an English back line still settling. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both on six, could close the gap with a strong showing at Hard Rock Stadium.

For Kane, England’s all-time leading scorer, the outing may be his last at a World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker turns 33 this month, and his presence at the 2030 finals is far from certain. He would not discuss his international plans after Wednesday’s defeat.

“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane told reporters. “I’m taking it year by year and the national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do more than anything…. I never want to put a limit on these things.”

Tuchel is expected to rotate in players who have had limited minutes, with a likely first World Cup appearance for Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and a possible start for backup forward Ollie Watkins. Deschamps could turn to veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, a central figure in France’s 2018 triumph, who has yet to play a minute at this tournament in the United States.