Teams face unwanted fixture in Miami
France and England are set to conclude their World Cup campaigns in a third-place play-off match in Miami on Saturday. Both teams are coming off semi-final defeats, with France losing 2-0 to Spain and England falling 2-1 to Argentina. The fixture is widely regarded as an undesirable match by players and coaches alike.
England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed that neither his players nor the French players wished to participate in this match, stating their primary goal was to reach the final. He acknowledged the professional obligation to play, despite having one less day of recovery than France.
The match will take place at the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida, United States, with kickoff scheduled for 5pm (21:00 GMT) on Saturday. This encounter marks the fourth World Cup meeting between the two nations. England previously won two matches, 2-0 in 1966 and 3-1 in 1982, while France secured a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting during the 2022 quarter-finals.
Deschamps’ farewell and Golden Boot race
The third-place play-off will be the final match in charge for Didier Deschamps as France coach. Deschamps, who was appointed in 2012, described his 14-year tenure as having provided both magical and difficult moments. He led France to a World Cup triumph in 2018, a final appearance in Qatar in 2022, and a semi-final finish in the current tournament. He stated that he would miss the French team but maintained a positive outlook for the future.
Despite the disappointment of not reaching the final, the match offers a significant opportunity for France captain Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. Mbappe is currently the joint top scorer in the tournament with Lionel Messi, both having scored eight goals. Mbappe, the current Golden Boot holder, is also one goal behind Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring charts, with 20 goals compared to Messi’s 21.
Should Mbappe win the award, he would become the first player to achieve the feat twice. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who each have six goals, also remain in contention for the award if they deliver strong performances.
Team rotations and potential debuts
Both managers are expected to rotate their squads heavily for the match, given the demanding nature of the tournament. Tuchel‘s England side endured a challenging campaign, including an energy-sapping last-16 trip to Mexico City and a hot quarter-final win over Norway in Miami, before their defeat to Argentina.
Tuchel is likely to provide game time to players who have had limited appearances throughout the tournament. This could include a World Cup debut for Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and a potential start for Ollie Watkins, who serves as Kane’s understudy. Deschamps might also consider fielding veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, a key figure in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, who has not yet played in the United States.
Injuries will also influence team selections. William Saliba (back) and Brice Samba (calf) are unavailable for France. For England, Jordan Henderson (wrist) is injured, and Reece James (muscle) is doubtful. The Opta supercomputer has predicted France as favourites to secure third place, with a 50.7 percent chance of winning within 90 minutes, based on 25,000 pre-match simulations.
The match could also mark a significant moment for Kane, who turns 33 this month. It is uncertain whether he will feature in the 2030 finals, and he declined to comment on his international future after England’s semi-final defeat. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 5pm (21:00 GMT).
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Source: dawn.com
