France and England face off in World Cup

'Bronze Final'

The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

The teams who fell short of the World Cup final will face off in the third-place play-off, with France's Didier Deschamps set to step down after 14 years in charge. The game kicks off on Saturday, July 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. France and England, who finished third and fourth in the FIFA world rankings respectively, will be looking to finish on the podium.

### Deschamps to exit after 14 years in charge

France manager Didier Deschamps has made it clear that he will step down from his role after the World Cup, ending a 14-year tenure. The decision comes after a disappointing semi-final defeat to Spain, where France failed to score despite having the majority of the possession. Deschamps, a two-time World Cup winner as a player and coach, has been in charge of the team since 2012.

### England seeks redemption in third-place play-off

England, who were defeated by Argentina in the semi-final, will be looking to regain some positivity in the third-place play-off. Thomas Tuchel's team has shown glimpses of brilliance throughout the tournament, with players like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane impressing fans with their performance. However, the team's defense remains a concern, having conceded five goals in their last two games.

### Mbappe still in contention for Golden Boot

The Golden Boot award is still up for grabs, with Kylian Mbappe of France level on eight goals with Argentina's Lionel Messi. Mbappe, who has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, will be looking to add to his tally in the third-place play-off. However, England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are not far behind, with six goals each.

### Kick-off and TV details

The game kicks off on Saturday, July 18 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST. Fans can tune in to watch the match on Fox Sports One in the US, TSN in Canada, and BBC One in the UK. The match will also be broadcast on various other channels around the world.

### Key Facts

  • Kick-off: Saturday, July 18, 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST
  • Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
  • Teams: France vs England
  • FIFA World Rankings: France (third) vs England (fourth)
  • Didier Deschamps: France manager stepping down after 14 years in charge
  • Kylian Mbappe: France player still in contention for Golden Boot
  • Harry Kane: England player with six goals in the tournament

Image query: Football players on

the pitch