France and England set to contest World Cup third-place match

France and England will face each other on Saturday in the World Cup third-place playoff after both teams suffered semifinal losses. France, a pre-tournament favorite, lost to Argentina, while England were eliminated by the same opponent.

France defender Ibrahima Konaté said, "None of us wanted to play in this game for third place, but we don’t have a choice to play. France and England have a big story together. And yeah, we are looking forward for the game tomorrow, and let’s see what will happen."

England coach Gareth Southgate’s successor, Thomas Tuchel, acknowledged the disappointment, stating, "Nobody wants to be, tomorrow, in this game. All of these four teams wanted to be in New York (at the final). But it is an official World Cup game. It’s a chance to have the best result in 60 years for England."

Kylian Mbappé remains in contention for the Golden Boot, tied with Lionel Messi at eight goals, though Messi leads on assists. France coach Didier Deschamps confirmed Mbappé will be available but expects lineup changes. Tuchel also indicated England will make adjustments.

Deschamps, concluding a 14-year tenure as France’s manager, said, "We have duties. We have a responsibility to wear this jersey for all the French people who are cheering for us."

Both coaches emphasized the importance of the match as a test of mentality and a chance to end the tournament on a positive note.