England beat France 6-4, Saka hat-trick in World Cup third-place game
In an angry, divided world, this is a great image from last night's France-England game 👏
Not a single yellow card throughout the game as far as I remember. A pleasure to watch (un peu moins pour les français, il faut dire!)
the shots of france v japan in rugby are a great image.
It's a prayer circle. A few of those players are current or previous Palace players who have regularly prayed together pre and post match. Maxence Lacroix leading the prayer as he usually does.
Also, it was FUN. Like the World Cup is meant to be.
Helps that it was treated as a high-tempo exhibition friendly. Something like a football equivalent of a Barbarians rugby match. But still. It *was* played in that style - and that fed into the spirit between the players, which was great to see.
Many of the players also play in England or France. The entente cordiale inspired by football is excellent
the black employee post meeting meet up is universal ☝🏿
(quietly, wiping a tear from one eye): oceans are now huggyfields
I love how WE understand this picture on a whole different level.
The mutual respect shown between all of the players, support staff & coaches was reassuring to see, after the match. In this world, we need to see this & not endless hatred. The best match of the tournament.
Makes you wonder - would the people calling this beautiful, also call it beautiful if they were praying towards Mecca. Might want to look into the misogynistic, homophobe evangelical organization “ballers in god“ these players are a part of.
En tk, c'est pas de même que la Bataille des Plaines s'est terminée 😬
Because we’re all Europeans (and we should all be in the EU). France just gave our outgoing U.K. Prime Minister the Legion d'honneur. At this time in particular, Europe needs to hold together to forge ahead.
The beautiful game #France 🇫🇷 v England 🏴 #WorldCup2026 ⚽️
This corrupt World Cup got cleansed a little by the 3rd place match, which should've been the final in my opinion. So happy I got to watch all the players behave like normal footballers after the match. Laughing, hugging each other, exchanging jerseys... good for you guys.
I don't do football, but the image here is powerful enough to share.
Bukayo Saka is now the all-time top scorer for England as an Arsenal player in history. 15 goals and counting.
Make that 16 and counting…
Had to switch to Telemundo. Fox Sports is the worst. Even worse than Fox News and I never thought it was possible. Schlock tv!!!
"Tuchel...How Do You Not play what is perhaps, Literally...The Biggest Game-Changer Player For England? It's Not so much about goals that he scores, Instead...It's How He's Been Able to Break-Down, The Defense of Other Teams...Which Leads to Scores By Kane, Bellingham & Others."
Amazing match - 10 goals! And, Saka had a hat trick. And some people believe soccer is dull. Twenty two people running, passing, marking for more than 90 minutes is remarkable. The action is constant even though rarely is there match like this. You’ve got to appreciate the sheer athleticism.
Même Alfred Dupond, joueur du FC Foot Cécité, aurait mis un triplé.... Even Alfred Dupond, player of FC Foot Cécité, would have scored a hat-trick....
Where are the racists claiming people like Bukayo are taking their jobs and their benefits? Where’s Farage and his racist minions?
Thank you England and France for one of the greatest World Cup games ever played...🏴🇲🇫
Just sat and watched it. Phenomenal. Neither side giving up, barely a minute of rest throughout, and no histrionics.
England: “It’s been almost 250 years, do you think we still have a chance to get these Americans” France: “shhhh they think we’re in a friendship huddle. Don’t let them hear our plans.”
It really was a wonderful game. I’m glad because now I don’t have to watch the final!
🚨🏅 OFFICIAL: Bukayo Saka, Man of the Match for England-France.
What do say ReformUK Nigel Farage? @lbc.co.uk #UK @mrjamesob.bsky.social @zeteo.com #news.sky.com #FIFA #bbcradio5 sport
örülök saka sikerének, főleg, hogy 11-esből is betalált. élénken él bennem a 2021-es eb döntő, amikor kihagyta a büntetőt, ezért gusztustalan, rasszista szidalmakat kapott a "szurkolóktól" az akkor 19 éves srác. azóta neki duplán drukkolok minden tizinél. #fifaworldcup #fraeng
Hope football fans across England remembers this day whenever Saka has a bad game. Not everyday is Christmas. It’s time to end racism in sports!
If Thomas Tuchel really and truly didn't play Bukayo Saka against Argentina for tactical reasons, not only should the FA not offer him a new contract, he should potentially be run out of coaching altogether.
He honestly froze. He totally lost his head. We’ve seen Pep do madness like this in a UCL final, starting Zinchenko as a false 9. Arteta froze in the Carabao cup final earlier this year. This shit happens.
Jaysus, you played French team that already was on the beach. Guess you're expecting to win 2030 on the strength of one decent half against an aging Croatia.
Real respect between England and France. Thats the way it should be. It’s not a war. Thank you to both teams, absolutely breathtaking at times. You can leave with your heads held high oh and you’re not animals.
What a crazy game we watched last night! Pure joy, the beautiful game!
Yes, and it was FUN. These are the greatest athletes in their sport coming together every 4 years to test themselves. It should be fun.
At least the English players didn't march round with a banner saying 'Pas-de-Calais belongs to England', nor I guess the French with a banner saying 'England belongs to France'
I am goin to watch this on catch up, but I will not watch the final. This World Cup was rigged from the start. So many dodgy Ref decisions that Penalty awarded to Yamal was never a Penalty, he came crashing into the Defender from behind him and to the side of him.
The 3rd place World Cup game between England and France was absolutely bonkers. I loved it.
It was superb. It had me on the edge of my seat for the whole time. So enjoyable!
Nice article. Loved the game. Long may England play like that, with passion and fearlesness
10 goals, no yellow cards, no red cards, no flare ups just respect for each other. Pats on the back all round at the end congratulating each other on a great game. Thank you for showing the world how it should be 🏴🇫🇷
same! So happy for Saka
Best game of the tournament