World cup 2026: Saka Stars As England Beat France In Third-Place

England forward Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick to earn a 6-4 victory for the Three Lions to secure the bronze medal at this 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The third-place clash saw a thrilling 10 combined goals, the most in a World Cup game since 1982.

The Three Lions took the lead less than three minutes in with Declan Rice’s long-range goal, then Ezri Konsa headed home Rice’s corner 15 minutes later to double England’s lead.

Saka added two before the halftime whistle as England took a stunning 4-0 lead into the break.

However, France wasn’t done. In his last game after 14 years in charge, Didier Deschamps made a quadruple sub to start the second half, shaking things up in attack with the additions of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola.

Kylian Mbappe scored a few minutes after the break, his ninth goal of the tournament to tie Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot and his 21st career World Cup goal, matching Messi’s record set this summer. Ten minutes later, Barcola scored, cutting England’s lead to 4-2.

Mbappe scored again in the 66th minute to bring France within one goal and make him the World Cup’s all-time goalscorer.

However, Saka converted a penalty in the 87th minute, restoring the two-goal lead. Dembele, of course, answered in stoppage time to give France hope and bring the score 5-4.

Substitute Jude Bellingham scored in the 98th minute to give England its best World Cup finish since 1966.