England are set to play France in the World Cup third-place play-off tonight, Saturday 18 July, following their respective semi-final defeats. The match, kicking off at 10pm and broadcast live on BBC One, offers a consolation prize for both nations who fell short of reaching the final.
France, initially tipped as tournament favourites, were unexpectedly beaten by European champions Spain in their semi-final on Tuesday. England then saw their hopes dashed 24 hours later, as Argentina mounted a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory in added time. Despite the disappointment, England still have an opportunity to surpass their 2018 performance under former manager Gareth Southgate, where they finished fourth.
For France, the game marks a significant occasion as it will be head coach Didier Deschamps' final match in charge of Les Bleus after a 14-year tenure. Deschamps led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and was a runner-up in 2022. Securing third place would offer a fitting farewell. Bookmakers currently favour France for the win, with odds of 19/20, while England are priced at 29/10 to claim the bronze medal.
Beyond national pride, the match also holds individual significance for France's Kylian Mbappé. He is currently level with Lionel Messi on eight goals in the race for the Golden Boot award. With Messi having secured two assists against England in the semi-final, Mbappé has the chance to apply pressure by adding to his tally tonight. Despite playing England twice before, Mbappé has yet to score against them, with betting apps offering 5/6 for him to score at any time during the match.
England's manager, Tuchel, faces decisions regarding his squad selection, particularly given the limited involvement of several players throughout the tournament. Forwards Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have played a combined seven minutes, while Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo, and Trevoh Chalobah have also seen minimal action. These players may feature more prominently tonight, while captain Harry Kane is expected to start, having played in all but 40 minutes of England's seven World Cup games so far. A third-place finish would represent England's best World Cup result since their victory in 1966, providing a chance for the squad to make history and continue their trajectory towards a second World Cup title.