France put in a dismal first-half performance as they lost to Thomas Tuchel's England in the World Cup third place play-off
Maxence Lacroix #26, Jules Kounde #5, Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, Warren Zaire-Emery #18 and Bradley Barcola #12 of France react after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026
France were found lacking against England in Miami(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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A frankly preposterous World Cup third place play-off went the way of England after a chaotic night in Miami. The Three Lions were 4-0 up at half-time against France, eventually winning 6-4 as Bukayo Saka finished the game with a hat-trick.
If the recriminations for England began after the semi-final loss to Argentina, France got their own fair share on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Didier Deschamps rung the changes in his final game in charge but those looking to prove a point to the departing boss were unable to do so.
Thomas Tuchel also mixed things up and his players raced out of the blocks. Declan Rice put them in front inside five minutes and it was four by the break as Ezri Konsa headed home a corner and Saka grabbed a brace.
Les Bleus battled back after a half-time shake-up, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice either side of a Bradley Barcola goal. They even had chances to make it 4-4 but Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot and England sub Jude Bellingham clinched victory after Ousmane Dembele netted to set up a scary final few minutes.
It won't surprise you to learn the French media were far from forgiving. Here's what they said after a truly chaotic 90 minutes.
L'Equipe
L'Equipe is known for its often harsh player ratings, even after victories. So plenty were eagerly anticipating what might come after France conceded six in a game for the first time this century.
L'Equipe's player ratings from France 4-6 England
L'Equipe's player ratings from France 4-6 England(Image: L’Equipe)
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Sure enough, the defence came in for a hiding. Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate and Theo Hernandez all scored 2/10, with threes for Maxence Lacroix and Mike Maignan. There were a couple of other twos further forward, with Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue both earning the score before they were withdrawn at half-time.
"Never before had the French team witnessed such contradictory and bizarre acts, so equally unfathomable, both in their vertiginous fall and their subsequent comeback," L'Equipe's write-up of the match said.
"And so, Les Bleus managed to write an unprecedented chapter in history and achieve something extraordinary with a match that, in their eyes, hadn't even mattered an hour earlier."
L'Equipe cover with the headline 'Furie Totale'
L'Equipe pulled no punches(Image: L’Equipe)
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RMC Sport
The ratings from RMC Sport were similarly harsh, though only three of those five - Gusto, Hernandez and Cherki - got the 2/10 punishment. Like L'Equipe, their top rating went to defensive substitute Dayot Upamecano - as if to emphasise how weak Les Bleus were defensively in the first half.
"Thankfully, he blocked a dangerous Rashford shot in the 7th minute because the rest of his first half was best forgotten," the cutting assessment of right-back Gusto read. "The Chelsea right-back left wide open spaces for the English attackers and showed no desire to track back defensively.
"He even jogged back on England's third goal… He took advantage of the Blues' improved performance in the second half to showcase his attacking qualities but conceded a penalty late in the game, a fitting symbol of his defensive limitations."
France Info
A France Info report gives the semi-finalists some credit to the second-half recovery, which might have seen Deschamps' team draw level had Michael Olise converted a presentable chance. However, it recognised the damage had been done earlier.
"Didier Deschamps nearly ended his 14-year tenure as manager of the French national team in utter disaster, abandoned by his players," they wrote. "Trailing 4-0 at half-time against England, they finally shook off their insolent apathy to avoid a historic humiliation.
"The French team was transformed offensively after the four substitutions made at the break, but failed to address its defensive frailties. They ultimately lost by a more forgiving margin, by the unreal score of 6-4."
Foot Mercato
Over at Foot Mercato, it was Konate who came in for the harshest punishment. The defender is preparing for a first season as a Real Madrid player after leaving Liverpool but will need to recover quickly after a night to forget.
"Deployed at the heart of the French defence, Ibrahima Konate struggled against the speed and combinations of the English attack during the first half," the write-up read, along with a rating of 2/10. "Too often caught out of position and late to receive through balls, he failed to plug the gaping holes left by his full-backs or impose his physical presence in duels. Out of position, he offered little reassurance and was one of the main culprits for the four goals conceded in the first half."
Hernandez also scored 2/10 for his dismal 45 minutes at left-back, with Foot Mercato describing his display as a "defensive nightmare". "Completely overwhelmed by the English attacks and guilty of a blatant lack of discipline against a Saka who was having a field day, he was ineffective," they wrote.
"While he tried to inject some attacking impetus with a few forays forward, his crosses lacked precision and his lapses at the back left wide open spaces for the Three Lions forwards. A dreadful first half."
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