The French national team failed to honor Didier Deschamps’ final match as coach, suffering a dramatic 6-4 defeat against England in the World Cup third-place playoff. Kylian Mbappé, who matched his own World Cup scoring record, was the sole bright spot for Les Bleus in a match that defied all expectations.

Deschamp’s emotional farewell turned into a nightmare as his squad crumbled in the opening 45 minutes, conceding four goals to Declan Rice (3rd), Ezri Konsa (18th) and Bukayo Saka (37th, 45th+1). The French defense appeared completely overwhelmed, prompting midfielder Adrien Rabiot to label the first half as “shameful.”

Desperate for a response, Deschamps made four tactical changes at halftime, bringing on forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola along with defenders Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne. The revamped French side immediately showed signs of life, with Mbappé pulling two back (48th, 66th) and Barcola adding a third (54th), sparking an improbable comeback.

Late drama proves insufficient

Yet the resurgence was short-lived. England restored their three-goal cushion when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot (87th), before Jude Bellingham added a late fourth in stoppage time. A consolation goal from Dembélé (90th+6) came too late to change the outcome.

Though the result was a bitter pill to swallow for Deschamps, Mbappé delivered a performance that briefly reminded fans why they fell in love with this French side. His two goals brought his World Cup tally to 22 across three tournaments, making him the competition’s all-time top scorer with 10 goals in 2026 alone.

“I would have preferred to leave the record aside and focus on reaching the final,” Mbappé admitted, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster. The striker acknowledged his teammates were “completely stunned” by England’s early barrage.

Mbappé’s individual brilliance kept France’s hopes alive until the final whistle, though his efforts weren’t enough to secure a podium finish. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s Argentina will face Spain in Sunday’s final, where the Argentine maestro has the chance to surpass Mbappé’s new record.

For England, the 6-4 victory represented their most successful World Cup campaign since their sole triumph in 1966. Manager Thomas Tuchel, facing intense scrutiny after Wednesday’s semi-final loss to Argentina, admitted the achievement was “painfully small” compared to his team’s ambitions.

As Deschamps prepares to step away from the dugout, his legacy remains one of France’s most decorated eras. Yet Saturday’s chaotic finale served as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in football’s most high-stakes tournament.