France - England (4-6): the Bleus' fightback was not enough, the Deschamps era ends on a completely wild match

Nobody really wanted to play this third-place match. Not France, still hurting from their elimination against Spain, nor an England side that had dreamed of the final. Yet for ninety minutes, the Three Lions showed they were the more motivated side. The Bleus, for their part, only turned up for one half. And against an England team as clinical as this, that is simply not enough.

A start to forget

Football sometimes produces scenarios that are hard to explain. Throughout this World Cup, France had projected the image of a solid, disciplined team, capable of matching the best nations. Four days after the semi-final loss to Spain, that same team walked out onto the pitch as if anaesthetised. Eyes seemed elsewhere, legs appeared heavy, and every loss of possession gave the impression that England could hurt them.

Thomas Tuchel's men, despite the criticism that had followed their elimination against Argentina, approached the match with far greater intensity. The German manager's message found an immediate echo on the pitch: leaving with a medal mattered. The English played this third-place match as a genuine target, whereas the Bleus still seemed trapped by their immense disappointment. This difference in mindset goes a long way to explaining a first period that was entirely one-sided.

A first half that France would pay for until the end

England struck hard and fast. More aggressive in duels, sharper in transition and far more incisive in the final thirty metres, they took full advantage of French generosity to build a 4-0 lead before the break.

On the English right flank, Djed Spence delivered an exceptional performance. The full-back dominated his channel from start to finish, made repeated overlapping runs and won the majority of his duels, becoming one of the key architects of France's first-half collapse. Opposite him, Malo Gusto endured a very difficult evening: frequently caught out by Spence's runs, he struggled defensively and failed to contain the English attacks. By half-time, the match already appeared to be over.

Deschamps changes everything, the Bleus rediscover their identity

For his final match in charge of the Bleus, Didier Deschamps nevertheless refused to let his adventure end that way. From the moment the teams returned from the dressing rooms, the manager made the necessary changes. The substitutes immediately injected energy, the defensive block pushed higher, the pressing became more aggressive, and France finally rediscovered the football that had impressed throughout this World Cup.

The reaction was immediate. Kylian Mbappé first pulled one back to make it 1-4, before Bradley Barcola brought the Bleus back to 2-4. England then began to doubt. France won the ball back higher up the pitch, created a string of dangerous situations and pushed their opponents to the limit. Michael Olise, hugely influential in France's attacking play, played a full part in this dominance but missed several important chances by failing to hit the target — chances that could have changed the entire script. Mbappé then scored his second goal of the evening to make it 3-4. Miami began to believe in an improbable comeback.

The turning point: the penalty that broke France's momentum

It was precisely when France seemed closest to levelling that the decisive moment arrived. Having struggled throughout the evening, Malo Gusto conceded a penalty. Bukayo Saka, who had an outstanding match, converted the spot kick and in doing so completed his hat-trick. The score moved to 5-3 in favour of England.

That goal hurt the Bleus enormously. Not only did it restore a two-goal cushion for England, it also shattered all the momentum France had built since half-time. The French nonetheless refused to give up and pulled it back to 4-5, sparking one final burst of suspense. But in chasing the equaliser, they inevitably left space behind them.

Introduced from the bench, Jude Bellingham immediately brought his composure, his control and his physical presence. His introduction stabilised the English midfield at the moment his team was suffering most, before he took advantage of the space left by the Bleus to score the goal that made it 6-4, definitively ending French hopes.

A defeat that does not define France's World Cup

This third-place match should not overshadow the journey France made. All the way to the semi-finals, Deschamps' men had impressed with their solidity, their balance and their ability to deliver in the biggest moments. The defeat against Spain clearly left psychological scars, and this catastrophic first half is probably the most visible consequence of that.

The Bleus did not lose this match because they were inferior for ninety minutes. They lost it because they handed half a match's head start to an England side that had decided to compete fully for this bronze medal.

Didier Deschamps' final chapter

This match will also be remembered as Didier Deschamps' last in charge of the France national team. After fourteen years, a world title, a World Cup final, a Nations League and exceptional consistency at the highest level, the manager closes one of the most significant chapters in the history of the Bleus.

Barring any unexpected development, Zinédine Zidane is expected to take charge of the national side. He will inherit a young, talented group already capable of competing with the best nations in the world.