By Bilal Ahmed
Teams face unwanted fixture in Miami
France and England are set to play in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday in Miami, a fixture neither team anticipated or desired. Both national sides are still recovering from their respective semi-final losses. France, who had been a strong contender throughout the tournament, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain. England experienced another setback in their World Cup history, losing 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta after initially taking the lead.
The match is widely viewed as an unwelcome obligation in the football community. England manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the sentiment, stating that neither his players nor the French players wished to participate in this game, as their ambition was to reach the final. He acknowledged the professional approach his team would take despite having one less day of recovery than France.
Deschamps’ farewell and Golden Boot race
The third-place playoff will mark the final match for Didier Deschamps as France coach. Deschamps, who has led the team for 14 years, including a World Cup victory in 2018 and a final appearance in 2022, will conclude his tenure after the tournament. He reflected on his time with the French team, describing it as a privilege filled with both magical and challenging moments, and expressed that he would miss the team.
Deschamps, like Tuchel, has faced criticism regarding tactical decisions following his team’s semi-final exit. His departure concludes a successful period that also saw France reach the semi-finals in the current tournament. He is 57 years old.
The match also holds significance for the World Cup Golden Boot race. France captain Kylian Mbappe is currently tied with Argentina skipper Lionel Messi as the tournament’s leading scorer, both having eight goals. Mbappe will be looking to increase his tally against an England defence that has shown vulnerabilities. England‘s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, each with six goals, could also contend for the award with strong performances.
Mbappe, who is the current Golden Boot holder, has the opportunity to become the first player to win the award twice. He is also one goal behind Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring records, with Mbappe on 20 goals and Messi on 21.
Potential lineup changes and player milestones
Both managers are expected to make significant changes to their starting lineups due to the demanding nature of the tournament. Tuchel‘s England side endured a challenging campaign, including a last-16 match in Mexico City’s high altitude and a quarter-final victory in intense heat in Miami before their defeat to Argentina.
Tuchel is likely to provide playing time to squad members who have had limited appearances. This could include a World Cup debut for Manchester United‘s Kobbie Mainoo and a potential start for Ollie Watkins, who serves as Kane‘s understudy. Deschamps might consider fielding veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, a key player from France‘s 2018 World Cup win, who has yet to play in the United States this tournament.
For England‘s all-time record goalscorer Kane, the match could potentially be his final World Cup appearance. The Bayern Munich forward will turn 33 this month, raising questions about his participation in the 2030 finals. Kane chose not to discuss his international future after England‘s semi-final loss.
The Opta supercomputer has indicated France as the favourites to secure third place, predicting a win within 90 minutes in 50.7 percent of 25,000 pre-match simulations. An England win is less likely at 25.6 percent, with a draw at 90 minutes having a 23.7 percent probability. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 5pm (21:00 GMT) at the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Injuries affect both teams, with William Saliba (back) and Brice Samba (calf) unavailable for France. England will be without Jordan Henderson (wrist), and Reece James (muscle) is listed as doubtful. This will be the fourth World Cup encounter between France and England; England won the first two in 1966 and 1982, while France secured a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting in the 2022 quarter-finals.
Read Also
Source: dawn.com
