France and England set for subdued World Cup third-place playoff

MIAMI: France and England meet in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday in Miami after both sides fell short in the semi-finals and were left to reflect on defeats that ended their hopes of reaching the final.

France, who had impressed through much of the tournament, were beaten 2-0 by Spain on Tuesday after struggling to respond to a tactical masterclass. England then lost 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, surrendering both their lead and control of the match to extend their history of World Cup disappointment.

Both teams now head into a fixture that has long been viewed with little enthusiasm in football, with questions over how much physical and emotional energy remains after demanding campaigns. England manager Thomas Tuchel said after the semi-final defeat that neither side wanted to be involved in the match but would approach it professionally.

None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match.

Tuchel added:

They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that's how it is.

We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.

Deschamps prepares to bow out

The game will also be the final match of Didier Deschamps' tenure as France coach. The 57-year-old is leaving the role after the tournament, bringing to a close a 14-year period in charge that included the 2018 World Cup title, a runners-up finish in Qatar in 2022 and a place in the last four at the current tournament.

Deschamps, who also came under criticism for the tactical decisions made in the semi-final against Spain, said France still had a third-place finish to contest despite the disappointment of missing out on the final.

There's a third-place finish to play for, so we'll do everything we can to get it.

Deschamps said after the loss to Spain.

We're not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment matches our ambitions, but we have to accept it. We have no other choice.

Golden Boot race in focus

Even if the match offers limited consolation, it could have a significant bearing on the race for the Golden Boot. France captain Kylian Mbappe is level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi on eight goals at the top of the scoring charts and will aim to improve that tally against England.

England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both on six goals, also remain in contention if they produce a strong display at Hard Rock Stadium. The game could further affect the all-time World Cup scoring list, with Mbappe on 20 goals and one behind Messi's 21.

Selection decisions ahead

For Kane, England's all-time leading goalscorer, the fixture could potentially be his final World Cup appearance. The Bayern Munich striker turns 33 this month, and there is uncertainty over whether he will still be playing at the 2030 finals. Kane did not discuss any long-term decision on his international future after the defeat to Argentina.

"It's too early to talk about that."

Kane told reporters.

I'm taking it year by year and the national team is my pride and joy. It's what I love to do more than anything.. I never want to put a limit on these things.

Team selection may shape the contest, with Tuchel expected to make substantial changes after a physically taxing run through the tournament. England's campaign included a last-16 match in the thin air of Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca, followed by a quarter-final victory over Norway in intense Miami heat before the semi-final loss to Argentina.

Tuchel is likely to hand opportunities to fringe players, with Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in line for a World Cup debut and Ollie Watkins possibly starting in attack. On the French side, Deschamps could choose to use veteran midfielder N'Golo Kante, one of the figures from the 2018 triumph, who has yet to play a minute in the United States.