Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 16

England, France Set Up World Cup Third-Place Play-off as Mbappe Chases 8-goal Golden Boot

Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 16

England, France Set Up World Cup Third-Place Play-off as Mbappe Chases 8-goal Golden Boot

Q: With a $2 million prize on the line, can two heartbroken teams find motivation in the World Cup's most unwanted match?

Yes. Even in the World Cup’s least-loved fixture, England and France have enough at stake to be fully motivated. The $2 million gap between third and fourth place is real, even if it matters more to federations than to players directly. FIFA’s prize structure means the winner takes about $30 million and the loser about $28 million, and those sums can feed into player bonuses, staff rewards and federation funding. It is not the main reason elite players compete, but it is not trivial either. For England, the sporting incentive is stronger than the money. Beating France would deliver their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966 and finally improve on fourth-place finishes in 1990 and 2018. After the pain of the semi-final loss to Argentina, it is also a chance to avoid ending the tournament with back-to-back defeats. France have a similarly clear reason to engage. Kylian Mbappe is still chasing the Golden Boot, level on eight goals with Lionel Messi, and goals in the third-place play-off count. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both on six, also have an outside chance. Individual awards often sharpen the edge of a match players say they do not want. There is also professional pride, ranking value and selection opportunity. Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps may rotate, but that can create motivation for fringe players and veterans alike. However unwanted the match feels, bronze medals, records and a better ending usually ensure it is contested seriously.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 16

Saturday's 22:00 BST match will pit England against France for World Cup third place after England lost to Argentina in the semi-finals and France also fell short.
Eight goals leave Kylian Mbappe level with Lionel Messi atop the scoring chart, and the play-off still counts toward the Golden Boot; Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are two goals back.
Third place would give England their best World Cup finish since 1966, improving on fourth-place endings after play-off defeats in 1990 and 2018.
Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps could rotate heavily after a gruelling tournament, potentially giving minutes to Kobbie Mainoo, Ollie Watkins, N'Golo Kante and Rayan Cherki.
Sunday's final will end the tournament, with nearly four weeks until the EFL season starts on 14 August and the Premier League returning on 21 August.