On July 19 in Miami, France and England will face off in the third-place match of the world's biggest football tournament. 1xBet review takes a look at who is in better form for the clash and what factors could influence the outcome.
Didier Deschamps's final match
The game against England will mark the end of Didier Deschamps' 14-year tenure as head coach of the France national team. Under his leadership, France won the world title in 2018 and reached another final four years later. Now, Les Bleus will be determined to give their legendary manager the perfect farewell with a victory.
Before the semi-finals, France had won all six of their matches, scoring 16 goals while conceding only two. In the knockout stage, they defeated Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0), and Morocco (2-0), keeping clean sheets in all three games.
However, their winning streak came to an end against Spain in the semi-finals. La Roja dominated possession, gave France almost no room to attack, and secured a 2-0 victory. It was the first time Les Bleus failed to score in the tournament, ending their hopes of reaching a third consecutive final.
The bronze medals are not the only prize France will be chasing against England. Kylian Mbappé has already netted eight goals and still has a chance to finish as the tournament's top scorer. The third-place clash will be his final opportunity to add to his tally and claim the Golden Boot.
Relying on defense didn't save England
After advancing from the group stage, England faced serious challenges in every knockout match but always found a way to win. Thomas Tuchel's side edged past DR Congo (2-1) in the closing minutes, overcame Mexico (3-2) despite playing with ten men, and needed extra time to defeat Norway (2-1).
The familiar scenario of a late dramatic finish returned in the semi-final, but this time, it worked against England. Anthony Gordon's goal in the 55th minute put the Three Lions on course for the final, but they gradually retreated deeper into their own half. Tuchel introduced Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, and Nico O'Reilly, leaving England with six defenders on the pitch. Even that wasn't enough. In the 85th minute, Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernández for the equalizer. In stoppage time, another perfectly delivered cross from Messi found Lautaro Martínez, who headed home to seal a 2-1 victory for Argentina.
Much will again depend on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the bronze medal clash. They have scored six goals each, accounting for 12 of England's 14 goals at the tournament. However, England will have one day less to recover than France, and they also played the full 120 minutes against Norway in the quarter-finals. Fatigue among their key players could prove to be one of the decisive factors.
What to expect?
France and England have met 32 times in their history. England hold the advantage with 17 victories, while France have won 10 matches, and five encounters have ended in draws.
The two sides have faced each other three times at the premier football competitions. The Three Lions won in 1966 and 1982, while France claimed a 2-1 victory in the 2022 quarter-finals. Late in that match, Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have sent the game into extra time.
There is no clear favorite for this clash, although analysts are giving France a slight edge, as evidenced by the 1xBet odds:
- France to win – 1.96
- Draw – 3.97
- England to win – 3.95
Don't miss this major showdown, and root for your favorites!
Published by Patrick Jane
17.07.2026