A disastrous performance in the first half of the third-place match saw France head into the locker room trailing 4-0, creating a tense atmosphere that eventually boiled over during post-match media interviews. Rabiot did not hold back when assessing the performance. “We started this first half in a quite embarrassing way. I saw behaviors in some players that I had never seen until now. It is a bit disappointing because it was the last game to look good in this competition,” Rabiot stated.

“There is a lot of disappointment after the loss to Spain, but we had to give everything until the end and we cannot settle for doing things halfway just like that.” Despite the terrible start, France showed signs of life after the break, a point noted by other members of the squad. “We talked at halftime, told ourselves we had to show some pride, and the second half was much better, because in the first half there were some unacceptable attitudes,” Rabiot concluded.

Deschamps’ response

This unfortunately marked Deschamps‘ final match with France, concluding the career of an unquestionable legend in the history of the team. However, his farewell was bitter, compounded by Rabiot’s controversial remarks, which the manager addressed with authority.

“I am not going to settle scores today!“ Deschamps said. “The players know it well. I am not going to point fingers. Instead, I always tell them what I think! Certainly, as Kylian said, it had to be digested.

“But it is I who made a mistake, I should have made other decisions from the start of the match, they can say it, and maybe it would have turned out better. Everyone is judged by their performances. Obviously, some players could have done better. I wish the best to everyone.”

France left reeling

There is no denying that France put together a surprising run throughout the tournament due to their dominance. Their World Cup journey included victories over Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), Norway (4-1), Sweden (3-0 in the round of 32), Paraguay (1-0 in the round of 16), and Morocco (2-0 in the quarterfinals) before hitting a wall against Spain. The Spanish side secured a 2-0 victory in the semifinals, shattering French dreams of lifting another trophy.

That elimination left deep scars within the locker room. According to L’Equipe, several players identified Deschamps as the main culprit behind the loss to Spain. Specifically, players pointed to the decision to keep Aurelien Tchouameni in the starting lineup and the substitution of Rabiot at halftime. The unrest grew because the coach maintained the exact same system during the second half, restricting his adjustments to player-for-player substitutions without altering the overall tactical approach.

After relying on Jordan Pickford throughout the tournament, head coach Thomas Tuchel has decided to rotate his squad for the final match of England’s World Cup campaign.

The decision gives another goalkeeper the opportunity to start on one of soccer’s biggest stages. Many fans are wondering who got the long awaited chance.

Who is England’s starting goalkeeper today vs France?

Dean Henderson is England’s starting goalkeeper against France. The Crystal Palace shot-stopper replaces Jordan Pickford, who had started every previous match for the Three Lions during the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel’s decision appears to be a technical one rather than the result of injury or suspension, giving Henderson a rare opportunity to play for England in a competitive international match.

Jordan Pickford began every match of England’s World Cup run and remained the team’s undisputed No. 1 throughout the tournament. However, with the World Cup title no longer within reach, Tuchel has chosen to reward Henderson with a start while also giving Pickford a chance to rest after a demanding tournament. For Henderson, it represents one of the most important appearances of his international career.

Could Dean Henderson become England’s No. 1 over Jordan Pickford?

The match against France could prove significant beyond the 2026 World Cup. With England now beginning to look ahead to the 2028 UEFA European Championship, Henderson has an opportunity to show he can seriously challenge Pickford for the starting role.

Although Pickford remains England’s first-choice goalkeeper, a strong performance from Henderson could give Tuchel another reliable option as the Three Lions begin their next international cycle.

The Three Lions face France at Miami Stadium in Florida looking to finish their World Cup campaign with a victory after falling 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semifinals. England managerThomas Tuchel has opted for several changes to his lineup as his team prepares for one final appearance at the tournament.

Gordon’s absence from the starting XI is the result of a tactical decision rather than a fitness issue, leaving the winger available to make an impact later in the match if needed.

Could Gordon still feature against France?

Yes. Gordon is eligible to play and could be introduced at any point during the third-place playoff. As a result, Gordon remains available to enter the match if Tuchel looks to add pace and creativity during the second half.

With both teams aiming to end their World Cup campaigns on a positive note, England’s bench could play an important role, and Gordon offers Tuchel another attacking option capable of changing the rhythm of the game if called upon.

With Harry Kane beginning the match on the bench in Miami, many supporters expected the Aston Villa striker to receive his chance as England’s starting center forward.

Instead, Thomas Tuchel made a different decision, leaving Watkins out of the lineup and prompting questions from fans. As a consequence, there’s a big debate about why that happened.

Why isn’t Ollie Watkins playing today for England against France in 2026 World Cup?

Ollie Watkins is not starting for England against France because of a technical decision by Thomas Tuchel. Rather than replacing Harry Kane with Watkins, Tuchel has chosen to give Ivan Toney the opportunity to lead England’s attack in the third-place match.

The decision has surprised many supporters, who believed this was the ideal opportunity for Watkins to start after spending most of the tournament in a backup role. Tuchel believed it wasn’t.

Why Olly Watkins hasn’t played in 2026 World Cup?

Despite arriving at the tournament as one of England’s attacking options, Watkins has received very limited opportunities under Thomas Tuchel. It’s totally Tuchel’s decision.

That represents a sharp contrast from UEFA Euro 2024, where the Aston Villa striker became one of England’s most valuable substitutes and delivered several important moments off the bench.

At the 2026 World Cup, however, Tuchel has consistently preferred Harry Kane as his first-choice striker, while Ivan Toney has now been selected to start in Kane’s place against France. Although Watkins remains available from the bench, his lack of playing time has become one of the more surprising storylines of England’s World Cup campaign.

Hence, England’s FIFA ranking might be different by then, and the same might happen for their roster. Also, out of the possible names that might not return, some are heavy hitters.

For instance, after England’s elimination by Argentina, questions on Harry Kane’s future for 2030 World Cup rose. Hence, some sort of rebuild might be in order for the Three Lions for the next World Cup.

List of England players that might not return for 2030 World Cup

A lot of the roster is in jeopardy of not coming back. Of course, the main reason for this is the age of certain players on the roster right now. Hence, it’s time to look at the names in jeopardy of not going to the 2030 World Cup.

England’s young core will arrive to the 2030 World Cup in his prime

Players like Jude Bellingham (23 years old), Bukayo Saka (24), Kobbie Mainoo (21), Nico O’Reilly (21), Marc Guehi (26), Elliott Anderson (23), and Declan Rice (27) are all likely to not only be in the 2030 World Cup, but to be in their respective primes as the leaders of the new generation.

Other players who weren’t called for this tournament but may very well be for the 2030 edition are Myles Lewis-Skelly (19), Tino Livramento (23), Cole Palmer (24), and Phil Foden (26). Hence, England will be ones to watch in the future.

Kounde has been an important part of France’s defensive structure throughout the tournament, but Deschamps opted for a different approach in the final match of the World Cup campaign. The Barcelona defender remains an option to enter during the game if France need adjustments.

With both teams looking to finish the tournament with a victory after semifinal defeats, France made changes to their lineup while keeping several key players available, including Kylian Mbappe, who is still competing for the Golden Boot.

What role has Kounde played for France?

Throughout the tournament, Kounde has been one of France’s reliable defensive options, offering versatility and the ability to contribute both as a right-back and as part of the defensive line. FIFA has appointed Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela to officiate Saturday’s contest.

With ideal conditions in Miami today, his availability provides France with depth in a match where both teams are balancing the disappointment of missing the final with the opportunity to secure a podium finish.

With key implications if France win, tie, or lose against England today, and if the situation requires a defensive adjustment, Kounde remains one of the first options available from the bench.

Manager Didier Deschamps has made several sweeping changes to France’s lineup to face England. With the world title no longer in dispute, the coach believes squad rotation and rest are the best options for a roster that has endured an exhaustive season.

Dembele’s omission from the starting XI shocked many fans. However, he does not carry an injury report; the reason he starts on the bench is strictly a tactical decision by Deschamps, who is resting multiple key starters today.

Both France and England have opted to rest several key starters

Throughout the week, multiple players from both squads admitted that the third-place match holds little relevance for them. Having set their sights entirely on the ultimate title, many view a bronze medal as nothing more than a placebo.

Both managers are well aware of this sentiment, which is clearly reflected in their heavily rotated starting lineups. For England, captain Harry Kane starts on the bench against France, as he is no longer in contention for the tournament’s Golden Boot. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will also serve as a backup against Les Bleus.

France has similarly chosen to rest big names, including defender Jules Kounde, yet Kylian Mbappe is starting as he is still in contention for the Golden Boot. While finishing third places a team on the historical list of World Cup podium finishers, the bronze medal simply lacks appeal for many of these exhausted players.

Is there prize money for the 2026 World Cup third-place winner?

Yes. The winner of the France vs. England clash at Miami Stadium will take home a significant financial reward alongside their medals. Historically, FIFA has awarded substantial prize money to the third-place finishers, an amount that continues to increase with every edition of the tournament.

Dean Henderson will start in Pickford’s place. England will rely on their backup goalkeeper in their final appearance of the tournament after suffering a semifinal defeat to Argentina.

He is not the only change the manager has made, as Jude Bellingham is also not in the starting lineup. Another high-profile absentee is Harry Kane, meaning England‘s starting XI is as follows:

Dean Henderson; Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence, Jarrel Quansah; Declan Rice (C), Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze; Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney.

Pickford’s outstanding World Cup

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jordan Pickford once again proved to be the backbone of the Three Lions, playing all 660 minutes across England’s 7 matches. While he conceded 8 goals throughout the tournament, his statistics only tell half the story.

Pickford delivered multiple world-class performances—including a vital 5-save display against Norway in the quarter-finals and crucial stops against Argentina in the semi-finals—constantly rescuing an English side that frequently fell back under heavy pressure.

Despite England’s heartbreaking 2-1 elimination by Argentina in the semi-finals, Pickford stood out as one of the tournament’s top goalkeepers, keeping his team alive until the final seconds.

The Bayern Munich striker has been one of England’s most important players throughout the tournament, helping lead the Three Lions to the semifinals before their heartbreaking defeat against Argentina.

His absence immediately sparked questions among supporters, especially considering Kane remains one of the contenders for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

Why isn’t Harry Kane playing today for England vs France?

Harry Kane is not starting against France because of a technical decision made by Thomas Tuchel. Rather than dealing with an injury or suspension, England’s manager has chosen to rest his captain after an intense World Cup campaign. Tuchel has instead selected an attacking trio of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Ivan Toney to lead England’s frontline in the third-place match.

Is Harry Kane available to play today for England vs France?

Yes. Although he is not in the starting lineup, Harry Kane is available and could play later in the match. The England captain could become a key option during the second half, particularly if the Three Lions need a goal or the game goes to extra time.

Another reason Kane is likely to see minutes is the Golden Boot race. He remains among the tournament’s leading scorers, and additional playing time against France could give him one last opportunity to improve his goal tally before the 2026 World Cup comes to an end.

England started the game with complete control and built a four-goal advantage before France produced an incredible comeback attempt. Kylian Mbappe led the response with two goals, while Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola helped France reduce the gap and create a dramatic finish.

Despite France‘s late pressure, England managed to seal the victory and finish their 2026 World Cup campaign in third place. France ended the tournament in fourth after a memorable battle, while Argentina and Spain will face each other in the final.

Although many supporters consider the third-place match a consolation game, England still have plenty to play for, including the chance to secure their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.

One of the biggest questions ahead of kickoff has centered on Jude Bellingham, with fans wondering whether England’s star midfielder will feature after an exhausting World Cup campaign.

Is Jude Bellingham playing today for England against France?

No. Jude Bellingham won’t start for England against France in the third-place match. Thomas Tuchel and the player have decided rest is the best option for Real Madrid’s midfielder.

Why isn’t Jude Bellingham playing today for England vs France?

Jude Bellingham isn’t playing for England against France to give opportunity to other players with less participation during the tournament. He could come off the bench, but, considering rest is a priority, Jude might not have minutes.