England win 10-goal bronze bonanza as Saka hits hat trick

England walked out of Miami Gardens with bronze after a 6-4 World Cup third-place playoff against France that went from awkward assignment to 10-goal chaos.

ESPN’s James Olley reported that England led 4-0 at halftime, survived a French surge after the break and finished with the country’s best World Cup placing since the 1966 triumph.

Thomas Tuchel’s side made the early running. Declan Rice scored after three minutes, Ezri Konsa added another, and Bukayo Saka struck twice before the interval, according to ESPN’s match report.

France, managed by Didier Deschamps in his final game after 14 years in charge, changed the mood after halftime. ESPN reported that Deschamps made four substitutions at the break, and Kylian Mbappé helped drive France back to within a goal with 24 minutes remaining.

Saka then completed his hat trick after substitute Jude Bellingham sent a long pass left toward Djed Spence, who was brought down while overlapping, ESPN reported. Ousmane Dembélé replied for France, before Bellingham produced a solo goal to close the scoring.

The box score matched the carnival feel: ESPN recorded 38 shots, split 19 apiece, with 20 on target overall.

Both teams had made seven changes, according to ESPN, a reminder of the odd place this fixture holds: a medal match played by two teams still carrying the sting of semifinal exits. England had lost to Argentina, while France had also missed out on the final.

Tuchel had been jeered when his name was announced before kickoff, ESPN reported, after criticism of his choices in England’s semifinal defeat. By full time, he had a World Cup medal to point to.

“It is the first medal in 60 years, the best World Cup on foreign soil, so I hope the players can be proud of that in some time,” Tuchel said after the match, according to ESPN. “The best thing you can do is react on the pitch and get the next win. Everything else is just talking, and talking doesn’t get you points.”

Tuchel added: “I am glad that we showed the reaction. We wanted it, and it was very impressive.”

The crowd leaned into the spectacle. ESPN reported that a Mexican wave appeared a little over 10 minutes in, while shirts from Norway, Spain, Colombia, Croatia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States could be seen around the stadium. Supporters alternated chants for Mbappé and Bellingham.

The ceremony carried a strange edge. ESPN reported that France left the field before English FA chair Debbie Hewitt greeted Harry Kane and England’s players as they received bronze medals and posed for photos.

For England, the night offered a medal, a Saka hat trick and one last Bellingham burst. For France, it closed the Deschamps era with a frantic defeat that still produced four second-half goals.

This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.