Kylian Mbappe ‘can’t believe’ the 2026 World Cup goals as Rice, Konsa and Saka gave the Three Lions a 4-0 first-half lead in the play-off.
Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa scored in the first 18 minutes and Bukayo Saka added two more before the break as England cruised to a 4-0 win over France in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
A quick start from England! 🦁⚡
Declan Rice scored the first goal in the third minute against France ⚽ pic.twitter.com/ID4u3rXOuM
— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
Arsenal Rice struck from distance after two minutes and 14 seconds before Konsa headed home the midfielder’s delivery, Saka firing over after Marcus Rashford had shown impressive composure to put the Gunners back in the lead.
The Three Lions double their lead! 🦁⚽
Ezri Konsa heads high from Declan Rice’s corner to head home 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8BfI1LSDOQ
— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy blamed Desire Doue’s “sloppy” pass for Rice’s goal. “Declan Rice sees the danger well,” Murphy told BBC Sport.
“It gives him a chance but he makes it look easy. It’s not easy to defend and finish well in the far corner. He controlled it well and it was a really composed finish.”
The Three Lions lead France by three goals! 🦁🔥
Bukayo Saka finishing England’s attack quickly ⚽ pic.twitter.com/9SCfE3uH3v
— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
World Cup 2026: Mbappe’s woes in England vs France
French player Kylian Mbappe started the game needing a goal to overtake Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the top scorer in the World Cup.
“Mbappe can’t believe that,” said Mbappe after England’s third game. “Look how high the French are – the defense is terrible.”
Speaking about the first goal, Murphy described France’s defense as “nowhere to be seen” “without closure, and urgency”.
🗣 “France is divided by England!”
Bukayo Saka scored the second and FOURTH goal for the Three Lions against the two-time world champions 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4RshXY692E
— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 18, 2026
World Cup 2026: Team England vs France
England made seven changes, with leading goalscorer Harry Kane rested and Marc Guehi, Djed Spence, Morgan Rogers and captain Declan Rice retaining their places.
Kobbie Mainoo, who did not appear in the final, is injured.
England starting XI: Dean Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney
England substitute: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Reece James, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke
2026 World Cup: France to face England
France also brought in seven players, including Mike Maignan, Adrian Rabiot, Michael Olise and Mbappe.
France starting XI: Mike Maignan, Malo Gusto, Ibrahim Konate, Theo Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Desire Doue
France instead: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Lucas Hernandez, Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni, N’Golo Kante, Maghnes Akliouche, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta
Where to watch England vs France: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off on Saturday was at 22:00 BST (17:00 ET / 14:00 PT). In the UK, live TV broadcasts on BBC One.
Live streaming on multiple devices is available via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: England vs France statistics
- Third place would be England’s highest World Cup finish since their only title in 1966
- England have played in the World Cup third place qualifiers twice, losing both – 2-1 to Italy in 1990 and 2-0 to Belgium in 2018.
- They have won one of their last nine games against France (D2 L6), winning 2-0 in a friendly in November 2015.
- With 14 goals, Kane is one of the top scorers in World Cup history, tied with Gerd Muller and one behind Ronaldo Nazario.
- Mbappe is the second highest goalscorer in the competition’s history, with his 20 goals one behind Lionel Messi.
- This is the fourth World Cup meeting between France and England – the Three Lions won the first two (2-0 in 1966, 3-1 in 1982) but France won 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-final.
- Every World Cup third-place playoff has been won without going to penalties, and France’s only 4-2 win over Belgium in 1986 went to extra time.
- France is about to compete for the fourth time in the World Cup for the fourth time. Only Germany (5) has more games
- Les Bleus beat Germany 6-3 in 1958 and Belgium 4-2 in 1986, although they lost 3-2 to Poland in 1982.
- They are unbeaten in four matches against England (W2 D2) since they won 3-1 at the 1982 World Cup.
- Deschamps will be in charge of his 187th and final game as France manager, with his 121 wins more than any other Les Bleus head coach (D35 L30)
