World Cup third-place playoff: What are France and England playing for?
France and England will face off in the World Cup third-place playoff after both teams suffered crushing semifinal defeats. The match may feel like an unwanted assignment for players who arrived in North America dreaming of lifting the trophy.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The third-place playoff will be a farewell match for France coach Didier Deschamps, who has led the team to several World Cup semifinals. Kylian Mbappe is still in the running for the Golden Boot and may start in the match to give himself a chance to turn a disappointing end to France's campaign into another landmark moment.
The World Cup third-place playoff is a match between France and England, two teams that didn't make it to the final. The match is like a consolation prize for the teams, but it's also an opportunity for players to make a final impression and for France coach Didier Deschamps to say goodbye to the team.
Analysis
A Farewell to Deschamps
The third-place playoff will be a farewell match for France coach Didier Deschamps, who has led the team to several World Cup semifinals. Deschamps has been in charge of Les Bleus for 14 years, during which he led the team to the 2018 World Cup title and the final four years later. While the 57-year-old had hoped to leave with a second world title as a coach, Saturday offers his players one last opportunity to send off the man who established France as one of international football's most consistent forces over the past decade.
The Golden Boot Race
Kylian Mbappe is still in the running for the Golden Boot and may start in the match to give himself a chance to turn a disappointing end to France's campaign into another landmark moment. The 27-year-old has scored eight goals at this World Cup and 20 in the tournament overall, leaving him in contention for the Golden Boot and within reach of the all-time scoring record. Argentina's Lionel Messi currently tops the charts with eight goals and four assists, and holds the all-time record with 21 goals.
Getting Minutes
England will have their own disappointment to overcome after coming agonisingly close to Sunday's final, and coach Thomas Tuchel may also use the game to give minutes to members of his squad who have spent much of the tournament on the sidelines. The stakes may be lower than either team wanted, but for fringe players there will be an opportunity to make a final impression.
Key points
- France and England will face off in the World Cup third-place playoff after both teams suffered crushing semifinal defeats.
- The match may feel like an unwanted assignment for players who arrived in North America dreaming of lifting the trophy.
- Kylian Mbappe is still in the running for the Golden Boot and may start in the match to give himself a chance to turn a disappointing end to France's campaign into another landmark moment.
- England will have their own disappointment to overcome after coming agonisingly close to Sunday's final, and coach Thomas Tuchel may also use the game to give minutes to members of his squad who have spent much of the tournament on the sidelines.
The third-place playoff may offer a chance for Kylian Mbappe to turn a disappointing end to France's campaign into another landmark moment, and for England to give minutes to fringe players who have spent much of the tournament on the sidelines.
The third-place playoff may feel like an unwanted assignment for players who arrived in North America dreaming of lifting the trophy, and the match may not have the same level of excitement and importance as the final.
