Team news

France

Didier Deschamps will take charge of France for the final time after an illustrious 14-year reign, making this an emotional farewell for the long-serving manager. France is also expected to be without William Saliba, who is likely to miss the match after sustaining a back injury in the semi-final.

With the pressure of the occasion eased, Deschamps could use the opportunity to rotate his squad, and hand starts to players such as Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki. Despite the changes, Kylian Mbappé remains France’s primary attacking weapon and will be eager to add to his tally as he continues his pursuit of the World Cup‘s Golden Boot. 

England

England head into the third-place playoff looking to bounce back from the physically and emotionally draining semi-final defeat to Argentina, with Thomas Tuchel hinting that he could rotate his squad. The England manager is expected to give several fringe players a rare World Cup opportunity, although captain Harry Kane and midfield talisman Jude Bellingham are likely to lead the side if selected.

Beyond ending their campaign on a positive note, the Three Lions will also be determined to avoid a repeat of the 2018 World Cup, when they suffered defeat to Belgium in the third-place playoff.

Head-to-head

• Total meetings: 34
• France wins: 19
• England wins: 17
• Draws: 5
• Last meeting: France 2-1 England, 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final.
• France has won four of the last six meetings between the nations.

What’s at stake?

Although the World Cup trophy is no longer within reach, there is still plenty at stake when France and England meet on Saturday. A third-place finish and bronze medal remain on the line, while France will also be eager to give Deschamps a winning send-off in his final match as head coach after 14 years in charge.

Kylian Mbappé has additional motivation as he looks to strengthen his bid for the tournament’s Golden Boot and continue climbing the World Cup scoring charts. For both European heavyweights, victory would also provide a welcome boost in confidence and momentum ahead of the next international competitions.

Verdict

Third-place playoffs are often open, entertaining affairs, with both managers likely to rotate their squads. France’s attacking quality, led by Mbappé, could give them a slight edge, but the Three Lions possess enough firepower through Kane, Bellingham and Michael Olise to make it a closely contested encounter.

Prediction: France 2-1 England.