At 5:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 19, France and England meet in the World Cup third-place playoff in a clash between two beaten semifinalists. France had reached the final in each of the previous two World Cups, but this time were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the last four. England, the birthplace of modern football, once again saw their hopes of “bringing football home” end in the semifinals, where they led by one goal before Argentina turned the game around after what was described as an overly conservative tactical approach from the coach.
This third-place match will be Didier Deschamps’ final game in charge of France. After this match, Zinedine Zidane is set to take over, which has added extra motivation within the squad. Senior players can give Deschamps a fitting send-off with a win, while younger players also have a chance to impress the incoming manager. In the defeat to Spain, France lost control of midfield and saw many forward passes cut out, creating only a limited number of dangerous attacks. Much of their threat in the final third relies on individual quality, with attacks often coming from wide players cutting inside or through-balls played centrally for finishers such as Kylian Mbappe. Their most dangerous weapon remains the counterattack, with several forwards capable of driving forward quickly and delivering a decisive finish.
England, meanwhile, had their attacking rhythm disrupted throughout the semifinal against Argentina. Argentina’s physical intensity made it difficult for England to build moves cleanly, and much of the first half was fought in midfield. Although England scored first, Thomas Tuchel was criticized for retreating too early, and Argentina eventually found a late winner. Looking at England’s overall tournament, their most convincing display was arguably the opening match against Croatia. After that, their performances were far less smooth, with several games decided by dramatic late goals. England’s two main finishers, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, have largely been used within an attacking plan built around crosses, aiming to exploit the instincts of the players in central attacking areas.
England’s biggest issue remains the injury to Declan Rice. His absence would reduce control in both midfield and the defensive line. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo would normally be the first replacement, but Tuchel has not given him any minutes at this World Cup, leaving the holding midfield role as a possible area of change for this match.
The most recent meeting between the two sides came at the last World Cup, when France won 2-1. Kane scored in that game but missed a penalty in the 84th minute. Overall, the view here is that France have the stronger motivation. England are seen as still affected by the disappointment of their semifinal defeat and the tactical errors that let a good position slip away. France’s direct running also looks capable of causing problems for England’s center-backs, whose recovery pace is considered a weakness, while Rice’s injury could further reduce England’s ability to screen and organize in midfield. Recommendation: France to win.
Match time: 2026-07-19 05:00