Saka hat-trick seals 6-4 England win over France in epic World Cup third-place playoff

<p>Where to start with this rollercoaster of a match? Thomas Tuchel had promised a reaction but he could not have imagined the manner of the response from England, albeit against a France team firmly on their sunloungers during an incredible first half in which they conceded four times.</p><p>Yet with Kylian Mbappé on the hunt for his second successive Golden Boot in Didier Deschamps’ last match in charge of <em>Les Bleus</em>, even that lead courtesy of goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa two from Bukayo Saka almost wasn’t enough. Mbappé began the comeback straight after half-time before adding his second after Bradley Barcola’s strike.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/19/england-france-world-cup-third-place-playoff-match-report">Continue reading...</a>