After the heartbreak of another World Cup semi-final exit, England had one final opportunity to leave their mark on the tournament.
What followed was anything but a consolation fixture.
In a breathless, chaotic and utterly unforgettable contest in Miami, England defeated France 6-4 to secure third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bukayo Saka produced the performance of his international career with a magnificent hat-trick, Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham all found the net, and Thomas Tuchel's side survived a ferocious French comeback to end the tournament on a high.
For Snus Vikings' World Cup Guessing Game, it proved the perfect finale to a month of drama, surprises and plenty of winning predictions.
England Produce Their Best Football of the Tournament
Three days after the disappointment of losing to Argentina, England looked like a completely different side.
Rice set the tone inside three minutes with a superb strike before Konsa doubled the lead from a corner. Saka then took centre stage, scoring twice before half-time as England stormed into a scarcely believable 4-0 lead against one of the tournament favourites.
France barely laid a glove on England during the opening 45 minutes.
The pace, pressing and direct attacking play that had occasionally flickered throughout the tournament all came together at once. Marcus Rogers and Eberechi Eze continually found space between the lines, Declan Rice controlled midfield, and Saka was simply unplayable.
For a moment, it looked as though England were heading towards one of the most comfortable victories of the entire World Cup but then came the second half.
France Refused to Go Quietly
Whatever Didier Deschamps said at half-time worked.
Kylian Mbappé pulled one back within three minutes of the restart before Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit again, completely changing the momentum of the match. Suddenly England looked nervous, France sensed an opportunity, and the game exploded into life.
When Mbappé scored his second to make it 4-3, the impossible suddenly felt possible.
England had dominated the first half and France dominated large spells of the second.
It became one of those rare matches where every attack looked capable of producing another goal, with chances arriving almost every minute and both goalkeepers repeatedly called into action.
Saka Delivers the Defining Moment
Just when France threatened to complete an extraordinary comeback, Bukayo Saka stepped forward once again.
His late penalty completed a superb hat-trick and finally restored England's breathing room before Jude Bellingham added a sixth goal deep into stoppage time. Ousmane Dembélé grabbed another consolation for France, but England had done enough.
The final scoreline of 6-4 will rightly go down as one of the most remarkable matches ever played at a FIFA World Cup. It was the highest-scoring game of the tournament, a contest packed with momentum swings, spectacular goals and individual brilliance.
Saka the Star, but Plenty of Heroes
Saka deserved every headline. His movement, composure and finishing were exceptional, earning him the official Player of the Match award after becoming only the second England player to score a World Cup hat-trick but he was far from alone.
Declan Rice produced one of his finest England performances, controlling midfield while opening the scoring. Ezri Konsa dominated both penalty areas with a goal and several crucial defensive interventions, while Jude Bellingham capped another outstanding tournament by scoring England's final goal.
Even in defeat, Kylian Mbappé reminded everyone why he remains one of football's greatest players. His two goals saw him finish the tournament as Golden Boot winner while also setting a new World Cup career scoring record.
A Tournament Full of Drama
England may have fallen one step short of reaching the final, but they leave North America with plenty of positives.
A third-place finish represents their best World Cup result since 1966, achieved with a squad that blended experienced leaders with exciting young talent. There were disappointments along the way, but there were also unforgettable nights, dramatic victories and performances that suggest there is still plenty more to come from this group.
For neutral supporters, the 2026 World Cup delivered almost everything you could ask for; shock results, last-minute winners, penalty shootouts, emerging stars and a ten-goal thriller that nobody who watched it will forget any time soon.
Thanks for Playing the Snus Vikings World Cup Guessing Game
With the final whistle in Miami, our World Cup Guessing Game also comes to an end.
Over the past month, thousands of predictions have been made, rewards have been earned, and we've loved seeing so many of you getting involved throughout the tournament. Whether you were backing the favourites, spotting an upset before anyone else or simply trying your luck on every fixture, thank you for making this one of our most enjoyable promotions yet.
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