World Cup Day 33: Saka's Hat-Trick Seals Bronze in Miami Goalfest

England claimed their best World Cup finish since 1966, surviving a ferocious France fightback to win a chaotic 6-4 third-place thriller that set a record for the highest-scoring bronze medal match in tournament history. England 6–4 France Declan Rice set the tone inside three minutes, charging forward to lash home the opener before turning provider for Ezri Konsa's headed finish from a corner in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then struck twice before the break — benefiting from incisive through balls that repeatedly split the French defence — as England raced to a 4-0 halftime lead that seemed insurmountable. Didier Deschamps, in his final match as France coach after 14 years at the helm, responded by sending on Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne to stiffen a second-string backline that had been repeatedly exposed. The substitutions transformed the contest. Kylian Mbappé, desperate to make his mark after a frustrated first half, netted within three minutes of the restart and added a second in the 66th minute from Michael Olise assists, taking his tournament tally to 10 goals and surpassing Lionel Messi as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals. Bradley Barcola had ghosted through a tiring England defence to slot home France's second in the 54th minute, making it 4-3 and setting up a nerve-shredding finale. Saka calmed English nerves with an 87th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick, but Ousmane Dembélé struck in the 96th minute to pull France back within one. Substitute Jude Bellingham finally sealed it deep in stoppage time with his seventh goal of the tournament — the most by an England player at a single World Cup — as England secured third place for the first time after playoff defeats in 1990 and 2018. Upcoming Match (all times ET)::  Spain vs Argentina, July 19, 3PM ET, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey