The FIFA World Cup third-place playoff is the match nobody wants to play, and it is taking place tonight between two former World Cup winners. For France and England, who dreamed of lifting football’s biggest prize, the bronze medal clash in Miami is a painful reminder of what could have been. Instead of preparing for the final, both teams are left playing for a match they would rather not have played after heartbreaking semifinal defeats. Yet the players have to turn up as they fight for national pride, and in some cases, individual milestones.
France entered the tournament as the favourites and looked every bit a championship contender, they looked unstoppable, till they were stopped by Spain. Didier Deschamps’ side cruised through their group and the knockout stages before running into a well-drilled Spain in the semifinals.
The 2-0 defeat was France’s least convincing performances of the tournament as they couldn’t find a way past France, ending their hopes of returning to another World Cup final. The third-place playoff will also mark the final game of legendary player and coach Deschamps’ remarkable tenure, giving his players one last opportunity to send him off with a victory. Notably, Deschamps has won a World Cup as a player and coach. Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer of Germany are the only two other people to have ever done it.
Deschamps even said it that none of the two teams would have wanted to play this match. The French coach, who is bowing out after this game, said, “I have a duty for this game, It is not a friendly. It is a third-place play-off. The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective. It is less important than the final. England does not want ​to play this game, and neither do we. But here we are.”
England’s story has been equally painful. Thomas Tuchel’s side appeared destined for the final after taking the lead against Argentina in the semifinal. They were in the lead till the 85th minute, however, Lionel Messi inspired a late comeback as Argentina won 2-1, extending England’s long wait for World Cup glory. England won their only World Cup back in 1966, so now it is going to be at least a 64 years wait for them, and that is, if they win the next edition.
It is easy to dismiss the third-place playoff as a meaningless encounter, but history suggests otherwise. Since its introduction in 1934, the match has often produced entertaining, attack-minded football. With the pressure of winning the World Cup removed, teams frequently play with greater freedom, leading to high-scoring games and memorable individual performances. It also gives coaches an opportunity to rotate their squads and reward players who have had limited minutes during the tournament.
There is another major incentive this year—the race for the Golden Boot. Kylian Mbappe enters the match with eight goals and 3 assists, and still has a chance to overtake Lionel Messi. If number of goals stay equal, assists come into play to decide the Golden Boot, so Mbappe has some individual glory to pursue as well. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham also remain mathematically in contention, but look too far out with their 6 goals. Individual honours may not erase the disappointment of missing the final, but they provide an extra competitive edge to a fixture that many initially view as an unwanted obligation.
The psychological battle will be fascinating. France have generally looked more fluent throughout the tournament and possess greater attacking depth, while England must recover from the emotional blow of surrendering a semifinal lead. Fatigue, injuries and squad rotation could play a decisive role, making the contest more unpredictable than many expect.
Ultimately, neither France nor England wanted to be playing this match. Both arrived in North America believing they could become world champions. Instead, they must settle for one final opportunity to leave the tournament with a victory and a place on the podium. It may not carry the prestige of the World Cup final, but for two proud footballing nations, finishing third is still far better than leaving empty-handed.
