The World Cup third-place play-off takes place on Sunday morning, with France set to face England. France have won 85.7% of their matches in this tournament and have looked stronger overall than England. They also beat England when the sides met at the last World Cup, so France are rightly viewed as favourites to come out on top.
Although France lost to Spain and missed out on the final, there is little shame in being beaten in a clash between heavyweights. Looking at their overall campaign, six wins from seven matches is enough to underline their quality. Their potent attack has been the key to success, with the team averaging 2.3 goals per game so far, while four clean sheets show they are strong at both ends of the pitch. The attacking duo of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have been especially dangerous, combining for 13 goals and five assists, and they will be England's biggest concern in this match.
England, by contrast, have not been as convincing as France in this tournament. They have won only four of their seven matches inside normal time, and they have conceded in five of those games. Given that France thrive on attacking football, England's back line is likely to come under major pressure. England have also generally struggled against France, winning just one of the last nine meetings between the two sides, and that came only in a friendly, with the other results being two draws and six defeats. On that basis, England should not be overrated here.
Didier Deschamps has achieved outstanding success with France both as a player and as head coach, making him a true legend of French football. He is vastly experienced, having taken charge of more than 600 matches in his coaching career, including 186 with France, where he has posted a 65.6% win rate. Even though France fell short against Spain, six wins in seven matches at this tournament again reflect Deschamps' coaching ability.
Since Thomas Tuchel took over, England's results have been quite strong, with only three defeats in normal time and a win rate above 70%. However, his tactics against Argentina drew criticism, as England were accused of becoming too conservative after taking the lead and retreating too deep, allowing their opponents to complete the comeback. Tuchel now comes into this game under significant pressure.
As France's attacking talisman, Kylian Mbappe has fully delivered at this tournament, producing a superb return of eight goals and three assists. Directly involved in 11 goals, he has been a nightmare for opposing defences. His explosive pace and ability to drive at the back line regularly force defenders onto the back foot, and he can both create chances for himself and set up teammates. He is clearly the player England must pay special attention to.
To be fair, Harry Kane has also done his job well for England at this tournament. Despite being tightly marked by every opponent, he has still managed six goals and one assist, providing the focal point of England's attack. Kane also scored against France at the last World Cup, so his display in this match will be well worth watching.
In terms of team news, France will be without William Saliba through injury, while England are missing Jordan Henderson for the same reason.