If you thought the World Cup third-place game was just a glorified exhibition, think again. England and France delivered a jaw-dropping, 10-goal spectacle that might just be the most bonkers match in any sport this year. From a 4-0 halftime lead to a frantic second-half comeback, this one had everything—except a trophy.
The first half was all England. Declan Rice opened the scoring, Ezri Konsa doubled the lead, and then Bukayo Saka took over with two quick goals to make it 4-0 before the break. France looked shell-shocked, and fans were already writing off the match as a blowout. But then the second half happened.
France roared back with three goals in 20 minutes—two from Kylian Mbappé and one from Bradley Barcola—cutting the deficit to 4-3. A hydration break seemed to stall their momentum, but the damage was done. England needed a response.
In the 87th minute, France conceded a penalty, and Saka stepped up to convert for his hat trick, making it 5-3. But the drama wasn't over. Ousmane Dembélé scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to make it 5-4, setting up a frantic finish. Then super sub Jude Bellingham ended the madness with a goal two minutes later, sealing a 6-4 win for England.
The match instantly became an instant classic, tying for the fifth-highest scoring game in World Cup history. Fans on social media were in awe. One wrote, '10 goals. Now it’s really over. 6–4. England finish third. Thanks to both sets of players for putting on an incredible show.' Another declared, 'Greatest 3rd place game in World Cup history? 6-4 England wins over France. The highest scoring game in 44 years at the World Cup.'
This wild ride came after a tournament filled with drama. Earlier, France's disgraceful World Cup exit sparked outrage after a 4-0 halftime debacle, but they showed heart in the second half. Meanwhile, England fans were furious as Thomas Tuchel benched stars for the bronze match, but the decision paid off in the end.
With the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina looming, this third-place game set an impossibly high bar. Will the final match be able to match this level of chaos? Probably not, but at least we'll always have this 10-goal masterpiece.
