Thomas Tuchel has rung the changes for England’s World Cup bronze final against France, with Dean Henderson, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Djed Spence, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, and Ivan Toney all coming into the starting lineup. The third-place play-off in North America offers a chance for the Three Lions to end the tournament on a positive note after their heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Argentina.
France, beaten finalists four years ago, also enter the match with a point to prove after losing their semi-final to Spain. Didier Deschamps has named a strong side, with Kylian Mbappé leading the attack alongside Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Désiré Doué. Theo Hernández and Jules Koundé provide width from full-back, while Youssouf Fofana and Adrien Rabiot anchor the midfield.
The match represents a significant opportunity for several fringe England players to stake a claim for future tournaments. Henderson, who has been understudy to Jordan Pickford throughout the competition, gets a rare start in goal. In defence, Quansah and Konsa are paired together for the first time in a competitive fixture, while Spence is handed his first start of the World Cup at right-back.
Further forward, Rogers and Rashford are tasked with providing creativity and pace behind Toney, who leads the line in the absence of Harry Kane. The England captain is named among the substitutes after starting every previous match in the tournament. Tuchel’s decision to rotate heavily has raised eyebrows, with some players reportedly «puzzled» by the changes, but the German coach insisted he wanted to give opportunities to those who have contributed throughout the campaign.
England’s path to the bronze final has been a rollercoaster. After topping their group with wins over the United States, Iran, and Wales, they edged past Senegal in the round of 16 before a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the quarter-finals. Their semi-final against Argentina was a tense affair, with England taking the lead through Jude Bellingham before Lionel Messi inspired a second-half comeback to send the South Americans into the final.
France, meanwhile, have been one of the most consistent sides in the tournament. They cruised through a group containing Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia, then dispatched Poland and Morocco before falling to a dominant Spain performance in the semi-finals. Les Bleus will be eager to avoid a repeat of their 2022 final defeat and will view the bronze match as a chance to restore some pride.
The third-place play-off has often been criticised as a meaningless fixture, but both managers have stressed its importance. Tuchel described it as «a game we want to win for the fans and for the squad», while Deschamps called it «a final in its own right». The match also carries financial implications, with FIFA awarding prize money of $27 million to the third-placed team and $25 million to the fourth-placed team.
Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United teenager who was part of England’s squad but did not feature in any match, will not receive a medal even if England win, as FIFA rules require players to have appeared in at least one game to be eligible for a bronze or silver medal. Mainoo’s omission from Tuchel’s plans throughout the tournament has been a talking point, with the 19-year-old widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English football.
Kick-off is scheduled for 10pm BST, with the match expected to last around two hours plus any additional time if the scores are level after 90 minutes. Extra-time and penalties are possible, though both teams may be fatigued after a gruelling tournament. The winner will secure third place and a measure of consolation, while the loser will leave North America empty-handed.
England’s lineup in full: Dean Henderson; Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi; Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers; Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford; Ivan Toney. Substitutes: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Anthony Gordon, Reece James, Noni Madueke, Ollie Watkins, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Harry Kane, Rico O’Reilly, Jude Bellingham, Trevoh Chalobah, John Stones.
France’s lineup in full: Mike Maignan; Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konaté, Loïc Badé, Theo Hernández; Warren Zaïre-Emery, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué; Kylian Mbappé. Substitutes: Brice Samba, Lucas Chevalier, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, Manu Koné, Ousmane Dembélé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, N’Golo Kanté, William Saliba, Lucas Hernández, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Maghnes Akliouche.
