France and England are staring down a brutal task: rallying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place game on Saturday, July 18, after both got absolutely gutted in their semifinal matches. These teams came into the tournament dreaming of a title, and now they are stuck playing for what feels like a consolation prize in Miami. It's tough to find motivation after getting your dreams crushed, but history tells us this game often delivers more excitement than you'd think.
More Goals Than You'd Expect? Betting On A Showdown
Don't let the "third-place game" label fool you too much, folks. While the emotional hangover from losing a semi has to be immense for both France and England, the historical data suggests we're in for some goals. Think about it: no more pressure, just go out and play. Since 2010, every single third-place game has seen at least two goals, with three of them hitting at least three goals. Brazil got shut out in 2014, and England in 2018, but that's the exception, not the rule for overall scoring in these matches. This isn't your typical cagey knockout match. Odds makers are still leaning France's way, with them at -215 to finish third overall and -115 on the 90-minute money line, compared to England at +172 and +280 respectively. You can catch all the action live on Fox or stream it on Fox One and FoxSports.com starting at 5 p.m. ET.Who's Playing, And Who's Getting A Rest?
This is where it gets super interesting. Both Didier Deschamps and Thomas Tuchel have a real balancing act here. These squads have played seven games already this tournament, one more than any other third-place team in history thanks to the expanded 32-team knockout round. That's a lot of minutes on a lot of legs. England, in particular, exhausted themselves defensively against Argentina in their semi. So, are we going to see some fresh faces? France has options like Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta up front, or Monaco's Maghnes Akilouche, one of the game's exciting young talents, potentially getting extended minutes. There's even talk of Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise being rested from the start. For England, Harry Kane could get a breather, with Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney stepping in. Kobbie Mainoo and Eberechi Eze are also waiting in the wings. While managers probably won't do a full squad overhaul, expect to see some players with heavy minutes either sitting out or getting limited to 45-60 minutes. France still has world-class attackers, even with rotation, and England might play looser on defense. So, while it's not the final, and the drama won't be as high, this third-place game on Saturday between two giants trying to shake off heartbreak should still deliver some fun. Get ready for some potential fireworks.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.