England edge France 6-4 as Saka nets hat-trick in World Cup bronze clash

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida (AP):

Bukayo Saka struck three times as England defeated France 6-4 to claim third place at the World Cup, while Kylian Mbappé moved past Lionel Messi’s career tally in the competition and seized the Golden Boot lead with two goals after the break yesterday.

The contest produced the most goals in a World Cup fixture since Hungary’s 10-1 thrashing of El Salvador in 1982, and set a record for a third-place playoff.

Saka found the net in the 37th minute and again in first-half added time, then completed his second England hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th. Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa also scored as the Three Lions raced into a 4-0 lead by the interval and held on through a chaotic second half to post their second-highest World Cup finish. England’s sole triumph came in 1966.

Jude Bellingham closed the scoring eight minutes into second-half stoppage time, taking his tournament haul to seven.

Mbappé moved to 22 career World Cup goals, one clear of Messi. He ended this edition with 10, two ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot standings for the competition’s leading scorer.

Messi gets a final chance to catch him when Argentina, the defending champions, meet Spain today in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé were also on the scoresheet for France.

Neither side had wanted this fixture, preferring today’s final. France carried enough attacking threat to have challenged for the title, but a semifinal loss to Spain ended their bid for a third successive World Cup final. England surrendered a 1-0 advantage against Argentina and fell 2-1 after Messi set up two late strikes.

Even so, a capacity crowd of 64,478 filled Hard Rock Stadium for the tournament’s seventh and last match.

Fans backed both sides, though many came chiefly for the occasion of a low-pressure finale.

“I love English football,” said Gaston Esquivel, who is from Mexico City and backed England. “I’ve followed the Premier League since I was a kid. I am a Manchester United fan. I like their style, I like their game.”

Thomas Viel, who journeyed from Paris to track France across the tournament, had hoped Mbappé would complete a hat-trick. He came close.

Trailing 4-0, Mbappé nudged a finish beyond goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute, then beat him again with a left-foot shot from roughly 14 yards in the 66th.

“I think Messi will not score a hat trick tomorrow,” Viel said.

The match also marked the last outing for France manager Didier Deschamps, who has said he will leave after 14 years. He hugged his players and acknowledged the crowd as he left the field.