World Cup 2026: England edge France in a dramatic goal-fest

The contest in Miami produced a total of 10 goals, delivering one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.

The Three Lions got off to a dream start as Declan Rice opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a beautiful curling shot from outside the box. In the 18th minute, center-back Ezri Konsa doubled the lead with a header, before Bukayo Saka shone with a brace in the 37th and 45+1 minutes, giving England a 4-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, coach Didier Deschamps made four substitutions to salvage the situation, and France immediately improved. Kylian Mbappe pulled one back to 1-4 in the 48th minute after an assist from Michael Olise. Bradley Barcola kept hope alive with a goal in the 54th minute, and Mbappe completed his double in the 66th minute, bringing the score to 3-4.

However, just when Les Bleus were at their most confident, England were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute, and Saka coolly completed his hat-trick to make it 5-3. Ousmane Dembele scored a stunning goal in the 90+6th minute to keep France's faint hopes alive, but just a minute later, Jude Bellingham ended all efforts with a goal that sealed a 6-4 victory for the Three Lions.

With his hat-trick against France, Bukayo Saka became the standout star of the match, while Mbappe also left his mark with a double, moving to the top of the 2026 World Cup scoring charts. The victory secured third place for England, while France had to settle for fourth after an emotional and wildly unpredictable contest.