France vs England - Five key battles to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 Third Place Play-off
Both teams locked horns during the FIFA World Cup 2022 as well.
After the semi-finals, Spain and Argentina reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Before Sunday’s final, France and England will play in the third-place match.
France were among the title favourites, boasting arguably the world’s most talented attack with Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe. They held a perfect tournament record until falling to Spain in the semi-finals. This is likely Didier Deschamps’ final World Cup as French manager, and Les Bleus aim to give him a winning send-off with the bronze medal.
England, on the other hand, locked horns with Argentina in the second semi-final in arguably the best game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far. The Three Lions were mere minutes away from playing their first World Cup final since 1966. But goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez resulted in them crashing out of the competition.
Under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel, England have been promising. This will be the rematch of the FIFA World Cup 2022 quarterfinal.
In this article, we will be looking at the five key battles to watch during the game between France and England.
5. Adrien Rabiot vs Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has been incredible during the entire World Cup so far. He has emerged as England’s most reliable match-winner in the knockout fixtures. The Real Madrid superstar has already registered six goals in the competition.
He has played as a number 10 in the World Cup so far. He will go head-to-head against Adrien Rabiot throughout the game.
The Frenchman usually plays as an anchorman, shielding the back line. The winner of this face-off will decide which team will create more chances throughout the game.
4. Theo Hernández vs Bukayo Saka
The fourth entry on our list is a clash on the wings between Theo Hernández and Bukayo Saka.
Hernández has been primarily a backup fullback for France at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Didier Deschamps has preferred Lucas Digne to start the games. He is a threat going forward, but is also an excellent one-on-one defender.
Bukayo Saka, on the other hand, is amongst the best players in the world right now. He has not played frequently in the World Cup. But we expect Thomas Tuchel to give him his first start in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
3. Rayan Cherki vs Declan Rice
Rayan Cherki came off the bench against Spain in the semi-finals. He has played a secondary role at the World Cup, but is expected to start against England.
He is an incredible attacking player overall with excellent technical ability. He is an effective dribbler and playmaker.
Declan Rice, on the other hand, has a different role in the midfield altogether. Rice is deployed as a defensive pivot. His job is to position himself well to neutralise any danger
He has been quite effective in the tournament so far. He will look to replicate something similar against France.
2. Ousmane Dembélé vs Nico O’Reilly
Number two on our list belongs to a clash between the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembele, and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly.
Ousmane Dembele has registered five goals and two assists in the World Cup 2026 so far. He has a blistering pace to get past his marker in a flash.
Meanwhile, Nico O’Reilly is an incredible one-vs-one defender. He is effective in the final third as well.
This contest will be of utmost importance considering the magnitude of the clash between these two European giants.
1. Kylian Mbappe vs Marc Guéhi
Topping our list is a clash between Kylian Mbappe and Marc Guéhi.
Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals and given three assists in the World Cup so far. He is battling it out with Lionel Messi for the World Cup Golden Boot.
He has been dominant in his World Cup career so far. The defeat against Spain was his first loss in regulation time in the competition.
Marc Guéhi, on the other hand, has played a crucial role. With his help, England made it all the way to the semi-finals in the first place. He is a physical specimen who outmuscles attackers off the ball with ease.
Where to watch France vs England live in India?
The game will be streamed live on Zee5 in India.
Where will France vs England be played?
The game will be played at the Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Who won the last head-to-head game between France and England?
The last game between these two teams ended in a 2-1 win for France.
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Bhavya is a passionate and knowledgeable writer specializing in Football and WWE. With a deep-rooted passion for these sports dating back to 2013, he brings over a decade of insight and enthusiasm to every piece of writing.