England outlast France 6-4 as Mbappe breaks World Cup scoring mark
England took third place after a 10-goal scramble with France, while Kylian Mbappe moved past Lionel Messi on the World Cup goals list.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
England nearly turned a 4-0 lead into another World Cup nightmare, then escaped with a 6-4 win over France in Saturday’s third-place match, according to CBS Sports.
The game became the most goal-filled World Cup match since Hungary’s 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982, CBS Sports reported, with England racing clear early before France dragged the contest back into chaos after halftime.
Bukayo Saka finished with a hat trick, including a late penalty that gave England breathing room after France had cut the deficit and threatened to pull level. Jude Bellingham then scored at the end to finish the job for the Three Lions, according to CBS Sports.
England’s big lead almost vanished
CBS Sports reported that England appeared in total control after goals from Declan Rice and Saka, with Saka scoring twice before the break. The Arsenal pair helped put England 4-0 ahead, setting up what first looked like a comfortable finish.
France then hit back hard at the start of the second half. Kylian Mbappe scored twice during a three-goal surge that turned the match from a rout into a live contest, according to CBS Sports.
Michael Olise later missed a clear chance in front of goal that could have brought France level, CBS Sports reported. The outlet noted that no team has surrendered a four-goal lead in a World Cup match.
England had already been under the microscope after losing a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute against Argentina in the semifinals, according to CBS Sports. In that match, coach Thomas Tuchel’s defensive changes became a major talking point after England failed to close it out.
Against France, CBS Sports reported that Tuchel did not respond with the same kind of heavy defensive substitutions as England tried to survive the pressure.
Saka settles it, Bellingham closes it
Deep in stoppage time, Djed Spence won the penalty that allowed Saka to complete his hat trick, according to CBS Sports. FOX Sports posted video of Saka converting from the spot to make it 5-3.
France still scored again in the final moments, but England answered through Bellingham. FOX Sports posted video of the Real Madrid midfielder’s solo goal, which made it 6-4 and sealed third place.
The result gave England its best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966, according to CBS Sports. It also improved on England’s fourth-place finish in 2018.
Mbappe passes Messi
Mbappe’s two goals carried his career World Cup total to 21, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi for the most goals in tournament history, CBS Sports reported.
CBS Sports also reported that Mbappe became the first player to reach double figures in a single World Cup since West Germany’s Gerd Muller did it in 1970.
France left with four goals and a record-breaking performance from Mbappe, but England left with the bronze medal after one of the wildest scorelines the tournament has seen in decades.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.