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Football Daily | France v England in the third-place playoff: the game nobody wants to play
France squad
- Full squad
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1 Brice SAMBA Goalkeeper
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2 Malo GUSTO Defender
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3 Lucas Digne Defender
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4 Dayot UPAMECANO Defender
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5 Jules KOUNDE Defender
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6 Manu KONE Midfielder
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7 Ousmane DEMBELE Forward
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8 Aurelien TCHOUAMENI Midfielder
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9 Marcus THURAM Forward
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10 Kylian MBAPPE Forward
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11 Michael OLISE Forward
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12 Bradley BARCOLA Forward
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13 Ngolo KANTE Midfielder
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14 Adrien RABIOT Midfielder
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15 Ibrahima KONATE Defender
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16 Mike MAIGNAN Goalkeeper
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17 William SALIBA Defender
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18 Warren ZAIRE-EMERY Midfielder
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19 Theo HERNANDEZ Defender
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20 Desire DOUE Forward
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21 Lucas HERNANDEZ Defender
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22 Jean-Philippe MATETA Forward
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23 Robin RISSER Goalkeeper
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24 Rayan CHERKI Midfielder
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25 Maghnes AKLIOUCHE Midfielder
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26 Maxence Lacroix Defender
England squad
- Full squad
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
France and England will face each other in Saturday's third-place playoff, a World Cup fixture with roots stretching back to 1934 that nonetheless generates little genuine enthusiasm from either squad. Whilst such matches have historically delivered engaging performances and produced higher goal averages than World Cup finals, both managers and players have openly admitted their reluctance to compete in what amounts to a tournament afterthought.
England enters with a poor record in third-place deciders, having lost both previous appearances. Despite the expressed lack of motivation from both camps, the encounter remains one of only two remaining matches in the tournament, offering a final opportunity for either side to secure a consolation achievement, however diminished its value may seem to those competing.
In short
- France and England meet in Saturday's third-place playoff despite both teams openly expressing reluctance to participate
- Historical data shows these matches deliver high-scoring entertainment and have helped nations achieve career-best finishes
- England faces an unfavourable record in such fixtures, having lost to Italy (1990) and Belgium (2018)
Explained simply
When a World Cup tournament reaches its closing stages, two teams are eliminated in the semi-finals. Rather than ending their tournament there, these two defeated teams face each other in a playoff match to determine who finishes third in the competition. This fixture has been part of the World Cup since 1934.
France and England are the two teams playing in Saturday's third-place playoff. Both squads have expressed reluctance about competing in what they view as a match of little significance, with managers and players admitting they would rather have won the semi-finals and progressed further.
Whilst neither team seems particularly motivated, the match represents one of only two remaining games in the tournament and offers a final opportunity to end on a positive note with a victory. England arrives with a poor track record in such matches, having lost both of its previous third-place deciders.
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