Although England lost to Argentina, the third-place match against France offers several exciting reasons for fans to watch, including the race for the Golden Boot and the chance for England to achieve their best finish at a World Cup since 1966.

World Cup 2026: Why You Should Still Care About the Games

According to Bbc.

Background

This match is important for Kylian Mbappe, who is trying to win the Golden Boot, and for England who want to improve their record at the World Cup. With Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham potentially scoring goals, the outcome of this match will affect their reputation and performance at international level.

Why this is important

The match for third place between England and France has a significant impact on World Cup history, especially for England who are looking for their best finish since 1966. In addition, the race for the Golden Boot between Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi adds to the tension, with Mbappe having the opportunity to score a goal and beat Messi in the scoring list. This is also an opportunity for English players such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to show their abilities on the international stage.

Main Points

World Cup 2026: Why You Should Still Care About the Match.
Even though England lost to Argentina, the third-place match against France offers several exciting reasons for fans to watch, including the race for the Golden Boot and the chance for England to achieve their best finish at a World Cup since 1966.
Kylian Mbappe remains central to England's plans.

England's World Cup dreams have been shattered again, and the wait for a first major trophy since 1966 continues. However, the tournament is not completely over for Thomas Tuchel's squad, with the third-place match against France taking place on Saturday (22:00 BST). This might seem like the last thing one would want after Wednesday's bitter defeat to Argentina, but maybe it's not that bad? In fact, there are at least four reasons why you should watch this game.

Golden Shoe Hunt
First and foremost, there is a trophy that remains the focus of the players on both teams: the Golden Boot. France captain Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a superb tournament and is currently joint top of the goalscoring charts with Lionel Messi with eight goals. However, Messi is slightly ahead because he has four assists compared to Mbappe's three assists. Goals in the third-place match still count towards the Golden Boot award, so Mbappe still has a chance of beating the former Barcelona man. If Mbappe scores a goal, or provides two assists, he will follow in the footsteps of Italy's Salvatore Schillaci, who won the Golden Boot in 1990 by scoring in the third-place match against... England. Of course, there is also the possibility that an English player could take the tournament's top goalscorer award, considering that Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are only two goals behind Messi and Mbappe. With fewer assists, it may take a hat-trick to reach the top, but it's always exciting to see the best attacking talent struggle to find the back of the net.

England's Best Chance of Finishing in a World Cup Since 1966
The top prize may be out of reach, but there is still a chance to make this tournament England's most historic. While finishing third may not be the dream of fans when the World Cup begins, victory over France would make this England's best finish at the tournament in 60 years. With a win, only a win in 1966 would have been better than this year's effort. The previous two matches for third place at the World Cup ended in defeat. Sir Bobby Robson's team lost to hosts Italy in 1990, while Sir Gareth Southgate's team lost to Belgium in 2018. When gold and silver are no longer possible, you can at least try for bronze.
Rarely Featured Star Opportunities
After a grueling schedule in this expanded World Cup, it is possible that both coaches take the opportunity to rotate their star players. This could provide an opportunity for players who have been waiting to appear in this tournament. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has yet to play a minute, but with less pressure in this match, Tuchel may hand the talented youngster his World Cup debut and give Declan Rice a bit of rest after his recent illness. Ollie Watkins may also get game time having played just six minutes so far, as will Ivan Toney, who came off the bench as England search for an equalizer in the semi-final. Meanwhile, 2018 champion N'Golo Kante is also yet to feature and at 35, this will likely be his last chance to play at the World Cup. Meanwhile, Manchester City playmaker, Rayan Cherki, only played 85 minutes in this tournament. Would Didier Deschamps give him a chance from the start?
Get Your Football Needs Back
Most importantly, this weekend is the last chance to watch competitive football for quite a long time. After the final on Sunday, it will be almost four weeks before the EFL returns on August 14, with the Community Shield the same weekend. After that, the Premier League won't return until August 21, and with changes to the international break times in England, you'll have to wait until the end of September for the next game. You can follow all the pre-season friendlies on the BBC Sport website and app during these slow weeks, but when it comes to watching competitive live football... you should take advantage of the opportunity. In this context, it is great that there is another World Cup match between two top teams to be broadcast this weekend.

What happened next

After this match, England will evaluate their performance in the tournament and plan their next steps to improve the squad ahead of the upcoming competition. Meanwhile, France will try to maintain positive momentum and prepare for future challenges. The outcome of this match can also affect the player's confidence ahead of qualifying for the next tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to England and France's recent performance?

England suffered a bitter defeat from Argentina, while France is also trying to recover after an unsatisfactory result.

Are there any players injured or absent from this match?

The article makes no mention of injuries or player absences for the third-place match between England and France.

What is the significance of this match for third place?

This match is important because there is still the Golden Boot trophy up for grabs, with Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane having the chance to score goals and win the award.

When does the England vs France match take place?

The third place match between England and France will take place on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

Who are the key players to watch in this match?

The key players to watch are Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, as they have the potential to influence the outcome of the match and the race for the Golden Boot.

World Cup 2026: Why You Should Still Care About the Match