Saka's hattrick help England to first World Cup medal since 1966
England defeated France 6-4 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match to secure the bronze medal. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick in a high-scoring, chaotic game that marked the final match for French coach Didier Deschamps.
Why it matters
This match represents a historic finish for England and a significant transition for the French national team following the departure of their long-serving coach.
Bukayo Saka scored a hattrick as England defeated France 6-4 in a breathtaking, chaotic encounter at the Miami Stadium on Saturday to claim the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a fixture traditionally regarded as a dead rubber, both teams abandoned defensive caution to produce one of the highest-scoring matches in World Cup history.
Thomas Tuchel’s England caught France completely flat-footed in the first half of the match that was Didier Deschamps’ last match as Les Bleus head coach.
It took just two minutes for Declan Rice to open the floodgates, turning home a loose ball from close range. France’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again in the 18th minute when Ezri Konsa doubled the Three Lions’ advantage from a well-delivered set-piece.
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