Saka nets hat-trick as England beat France in 10-goal thriller to secure World Cup Bronze

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

England ended their FIFA World Cup campaign on a high with a pulsating 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff on Saturday, inspired by a sensational hat-trick from Bukayo Saka.

In one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches, the Three Lions raced into a commanding four-goal lead before surviving a spirited French comeback to clinch the bronze medal.

Declan Rice set the tone with a stunning long-range strike in the third minute to give England an early advantage before Ezri Konsa doubled the lead with a towering header from a corner in the 18th minute.

Saka then took centre stage. The Arsenal winger struck twice before the break, first finishing Marcus Rashford’s incisive pass in the 37th minute before firing home from the edge of the area in first-half stoppage time to send England into the interval with a commanding 4-0 lead.

France responded with renewed determination after halftime. Kylian Mbappé reduced the deficit three minutes into the second half before setting up Bradley Barcola to make it 4-2. Mbappé added another in the 66th minute as Les Bleus threatened an unlikely comeback.

England, however, regained control when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Malo Gusto brought down an England attacker inside the area.

Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back deep into stoppage time to make it 5-4, raising hopes of a dramatic finale, but Jude Bellingham extinguished any chance of a French recovery with a superb solo effort moments later to seal England’s emphatic 6-4 victory.

France enjoyed periods of sustained pressure and created several chances through Mbappé, Michael Olise and Dembélé, but England’s clinical finishing proved decisive in a thrilling encounter that produced 10 goals.

The victory ensured England finished third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending their campaign on a positive note after their semi-final disappointment, while France were left to settle for fourth place following another attacking spectacle.