This is a bronze medal match where both teams rotated heavily — France start Cherki, Doué and Zaire-Emery while England rest Kane, Bellingham, Gordon and Stones entirely. France's attack still revolves around Mbappé (8 goals this tournament) and Olise (5 assists), and they should score through that familiar combination. But England's XI has more Premier League experience and direct running — Toney as the focal point with Saka and Rashford wide, plus Eze and Rogers as creative midfielders. England's second-string defence (Henderson debut, Quansah returning from suspension) is vulnerable, but France's rotated midfield (Zaire-Emery, Rabiot, Cherki) lacks the defensive screen of Tchouameni/Kanté. England's bench is stronger (Kane, Bellingham, Gordon can come on), while France's deeper changes suggest Deschamps is already looking past this game. Expect England's greater depth and motivation to edge a tight game.

In a third-place play-off, motivation often dictates the tempo, and France’s desire to end on a high note at home—despite the venue—should see them edge a loose, experimental England side. Both teams are rotating, allowing secondary attackers to find space against unsettled defensive lines. Expect a game defined by individual quality in transition rather than rigid tactical discipline.

France look slightly stronger in open play and at set-piece defense, but this is a third-place match with both sides likely managing fatigue and rotation risk, so I’m keeping the total modest. England have the better late-game bench options, yet their confirmed XI is a bit more functional than fluent, while France’s front four should create the cleaner chances through Mbappe plus one wide creator/runner. I expect France to edge a tight game with one goal from their main outlet and one from a supporting attacker rather than a high-scoring shootout.

This is a third-place play-off—neither team truly wants to be here after semi-final exits, but both will field competitive XIs. France has been clinical throughout the tournament (13 of their last 16 wins by 2+ goals), with Mbappé as a goal-scoring machine (7 goals so far). However, they just lost 0-2 to Spain and will lack William Saliba due to injury, forcing Lacroix into the back four. England's semi-final loss to Argentina (1-2) shows they can score but also concede; they've rotated significantly with Dean Henderson making his World Cup debut and Ivan Toney starting instead of Kane. Key observations: (1) France's width via Olise (5 assists this tournament) and Dembele on the bench is dangerous; (2) England's rotation means less cohesion, but Rashford and Saka offer pace and directness; (3) Mbappé's penalty-taking prowess and finishing (7 goals) makes him France's primary threat; (4) England's midfield (Rice, Eze, Rogers) lacks the creativity of their usual setup without Bellingham in the XI. France's recent form (2-0, 1-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1 before the Spain loss) suggests they're capable of 2+ goals even in a consolation match. England's defensive instability (conceded 2 to Argentina, 2 to Mexico, 2 to Norway) and experimental lineup (Henderson, Quansah, Spence all less experienced) creates space for France's attacking outlets. I expect France to dominate possession and territory, with Mbappé and Olise creating overloads. England will look to counter through Rashford and Saka but lack the precision they'd have with Bellingham or Kane in the XI. France 2-1 England is my pick: a comfortable France victory that reflects their superior form and attacking depth, though England's counter-threat keeps it competitive.

Both teams will look to end a disappointing semi-final exit on a high note in this third-place play-off. France will rely on their pacey attack led by Mbappe to exploit England's high defensive line, while England will aim to control the midfield through Rice and Bellingham to feed Kane. Expect an open, attacking game with France narrowly edging it 2-1 due to their superior individual quality in transition.

France look likeliest to keep their usual 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 shape with Mbappe and Dembele driving transitions, while England should lean on a compact 4-2-3-1 built around Kane, Bellingham and Saka. With third place at stake and both teams likely rotating minimally after semi-final losses, I’m prioritising balance, defensive continuity and the players most likely to start given their tournament usage and tactical fit.

France has looked the sharper attacking side throughout the tournament, with Mbappé in prolific form (6 goals), but they've just suffered a demoralizing 0-2 semi-final loss to Spain. England showed resilience against Argentina in their semi, though they lost 1-2; Bellingham and Kane have been their standout performers. For a third-place play-off, France will likely field an aggressive 4-3-3 with fresh legs to restore confidence, while England may adopt a more cautious approach after back-to-back knockout heartbreak. France's attacking depth and momentum in the group stages and early knockouts should give them the edge in a match neither team desperately wants to win.

This is a third-place play-off where both managers are expected to rotate slightly but still field strong sides. For France, Saliba is injured (confirmed subbed off vs Spain), so Konate partners Upamecano. Deschamps likely sticks with his trusted midfield of Kante and Tchouameni, with Olise (tournament-leading 5 assists) and Dembele wide to supply Mbappe. For England, Southgate may revert to a back four with Stones and Guehi central, Burn at left-back for physicality, and Livramento at right-back. Mainoo starts alongside Rice in midfield for energy, with Bellingham as the advanced playmaker behind Kane, and Gordon (involved in 4 goals in last 4 WC apps) and Saka wide. Both teams will want to avoid the bronze-match loser tag but defensive intensity may dip slightly, leading to an open game.