England routs France 6-4 in thrilling World Cup third-place match

On a sun-drenched Saturday in the third-place match of the 2026 World Cup, England and France produced a spectacle that transcended consolation — ten goals, a hat trick from Bukayo Saka, and a final scoreline of 6-4 that echoed across four decades of tournament history. England claimed their best World Cup finish since their solitary triumph in 1966, while Kylian Mbappé, even in defeat, surpassed Lionel Messi's international goal record and extended his grip on the Golden Boot. Some matches are played for medals; this one felt played for memory.