Photo: CarlosArturoAcosta, IJA / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
England claimed third place at the 2026 World Cup on Saturday with a 6-4 victory over France in Miami, their best finish at the men's tournament since winning the trophy in 1966.
Three Chelsea players featured in the match. Malo Gusto started at right-back for France, while Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah came off the England bench. N'Golo Kante was named in the France squad but was not used.
England made a rapid start. Declan Rice opened the scoring inside three minutes, Ezri Konsa headed in a corner to make it 2-0, and Bukayo Saka struck twice to give Thomas Tuchel's side a 4-0 lead at half-time.
France responded sharply after the break following four changes at the interval. Kylian Mbappe pulled one back three minutes into the second half, then set up Bradley Barcola to reduce the deficit further. Mbappe struck again midway through the half to make it 4-3.
James entered the game in the 83rd minute, replacing Jarell Quansah on the right side of England's defence. Four minutes later, Gusto was adjudged to have fouled Djed Spence in the area and a penalty was awarded.
Saka converted from the spot to complete his hat-trick — making him only the second England player, after Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 final, to score a hat-trick in a World Cup knockout match.
Chalobah came on in added time for Marc Guehi, putting all three Chelsea players on the pitch simultaneously in the closing stages. Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France to make it 5-4, before substitute Jude Bellingham sealed the result with a sixth goal deep into stoppage time.