{"id":17517,"date":"2026-07-18T12:51:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T07:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=17517"},"modified":"2026-07-18T12:51:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T07:21:50","slug":"france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"France vs England: Third-Place Play-Off Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i>Third-Place Play-Off | Miami Stadium | 19 July | 2:30 AM IST\u00a0<\/i><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#Team_News\" title=\"Team News\">Team News<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#Predicted_Starting_XI\" title=\"Predicted Starting XI\">Predicted Starting XI<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#France_%E2%80%94_4-2-3-1\" title=\"France \u2014 4-2-3-1\">France \u2014 4-2-3-1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#England_%E2%80%94_4-3-3\" title=\"England \u2014 4-3-3\">England \u2014 4-3-3<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#The_Match_Preview\" title=\"The Match Preview\">The Match Preview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview\/#IST_Viewing_Guide\" title=\"IST Viewing Guide\">IST Viewing Guide<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Team_News\"><\/span><b>Team News<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>France \u2014 Saliba out, rotated XI expected: <\/b>William Saliba is ruled out with a back injury requiring surgery. Deschamps is expected to rotate widely \u2014 bringing in Ibrahima Konat\u00e9, Za\u00efre-Emery, and teenage playmaker Rayan Cherki. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 starts: tied with Messi on eight goals and with Messi able to add more in Sunday&#8217;s Final, Mbapp\u00e9 has every reason to leave Miami with as many goals as possible.<\/p>\n<p><b>England \u2014 rotating players get their moment: <\/b>Reece James presence is doubtful. Tuchel is expected to hand starts to Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, and Noni Madueke \u2014 players who contributed less than hoped throughout the tournament. Kane, on six goals, is expected to play and will have Golden Boot ambitions of his own.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Predicted_Starting_XI\"><\/span><b>Predicted Starting XI<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"France_%E2%80%94_4-2-3-1\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/france\/france-squad\"><b>France <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 4-2-3-1<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Mike Maignan is expected in goal. Jules Kound\u00e9 at right-back, Lacroix and Konat\u00e9 as the predicted centre-back pairing, Theo Hern\u00e1ndez at left-back. Warren Za\u00efre-Emery and Kon\u00e9 expected as the double pivot. Michael Olise from the right, Rayan Cherki as the number ten, D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 from the left. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 is expected to lead the line.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"England_%E2%80%94_4-3-3\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/england\/england-squad\"><b>England <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 4-3-3<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Pickford is still expected in goal. Djed Spence at right-back, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Gu\u00e9hi as the predicted centre-back pairing, Nico O&#8217;Reilly at left-back. Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers expected in midfield. Noni Madueke from the right, Harry Kane through the centre, Marcus Rashford from the left.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> live in India on ZEE 5. Stream France vs England and the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final, all live and on demand.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Match_Preview\"><\/span><b>The Match Preview<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Neither Tuchel nor Deschamps tried to dress this up. &#8216;None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,&#8217; Tuchel said after the Argentina loss. Deschamps, whose mother passed away during the group stage, was equally direct: &#8216;We&#8217;re not where we wanted or expected to be.&#8217; Both squads will show up because that&#8217;s the obligation. And once the whistle goes, football tends to make even the most unwanted matches worth watching.<\/p>\n<p>This is Didier Deschamps&#8217; final match in charge of France. Fourteen years. Two World Cup Finals. One title. He&#8217;s been in charge for 26 World Cup matches now \u2014 more than any France coach before him \u2014 and has built France into the most consistently dangerous tournament team in world football over the last decade. That ends today, in Miami, in a third-place play-off. It&#8217;s a strange way to sign off. Deschamps will want a win. His players will want to give him one.<\/p>\n<p><b>Mbapp\u00e9 and the Golden Boot: <\/b>This is the real competitive thread running through Saturday&#8217;s match. Mbapp\u00e9 is tied with Messi on eight goals but trails on the tiebreaker (Messi has four assists, Mbapp\u00e9 three). Messi plays in the Final on Sunday. Mbapp\u00e9&#8217;s only window to pull ahead is today. A goals lead would make Mbapp\u00e9 the first player to win the Golden Boot twice \u2014 he claimed it in 2022 \u2014 and would tie Messi&#8217;s all-time World Cup goals record of 21. Those are real incentives on a day when most players would rather be somewhere else entirely.<\/p>\n<p><b>Rotation and who steps up: <\/b>With Mbapp\u00e9, Olise, and Cherki expected to stay on the ball and attack throughout, France will have genuine quality in the final third even in a rotated team. England&#8217;s rotated squad will face a different kind of pressure \u2014 a chance to prove themselves in the last game available. Mainoo, Rogers and Rashford have been largely passengers in this tournament. Saturday in Miami is the moment to end on a note that changes the narrative around each of them. Whether they take it is the subplot beneath the result.<\/p>\n<p>How each team got here matters. France were outclassed by Spain \u2014 nullified in ways no other opponent had managed \u2014 so there&#8217;s a tactical wound to process. England were 5 minutes from the Final. Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez at the 85th minute, Lautaro Mart\u00ednez in the second minute of stoppage time. Both sets of players arrive in Miami with heartbreak. The flavours are different; the intensity is the same.<\/p>\n<p>France will probably win this. They have more to play for collectively \u2014 Deschamps&#8217; farewell, Mbapp\u00e9&#8217;s Golden Boot push \u2014 and even a rotated France attack carries greater individual quality than what England will put out. Prediction: France 2-1 England.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IST_Viewing_Guide\"><\/span><b>IST Viewing Guide<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kick-off: 2:30 AM IST, Sunday, 19 July 2026. Pre-match build-up on ZEE 5 from 1:00 AM IST.<\/p>\n<p>This is the night before the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final, and while the bronze medal match carries less weight, Deschamps&#8217; farewell and Mbapp\u00e9&#8217;s Golden Boot pursuit give it genuine storylines worth staying up for.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>ZEE 5 is the official streaming home for the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 in India. France vs England kicks off at 2:30 AM IST on 19 July \u2014 check available <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE 5 FIFA subscription<\/i><\/a><i> plans and stream it live.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Third-Place Play-Off | Miami Stadium | 19 July | 2:30 AM IST\u00a0 &nbsp; Team News France \u2014 Saliba out, rotated XI expected: William Saliba is ruled out with a back injury requiring surgery. Deschamps is expected to rotate widely \u2014 bringing in Ibrahima Konat\u00e9, Za\u00efre-Emery, and teenage playmaker Rayan Cherki. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 starts: tied with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":17506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3636,3031,3639],"class_list":["post-17517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-bronze-finals","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-france-vs-england-third-place-play-off-preview"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1132x400-88.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>France vs England: Third-Place Play-Off Preview<\/title>\n<meta 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