France v England LIVE: World Cup 2026 bronze final kick-off time, team news and latest updates – UK Times

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The 2026 World Cup is at its final furlong. After all the build-up and a thrilling five weeks of the very highest sporting drama, there are now just two matches left.

European champions Spain were ultra-impressive in dismantling France and stopping their attacking firepower, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina side again launched a stunning comeback, scoring twice in eight minutes to beat a distraught England 2-1 on Wednesday, as they eye a second consecutive triumph on the world stage.

As for France and England, they face each other in tonight’s bronze final – the match nobody wants to play in. But having reflected on the past 102 games, we’ve decided on our best players, fitted into a 4-3-3 formation.

Here is the Independent’s World Cup team of the tournament.

Whilst the allure of this game is greatly diminished by the fact it is for the consolation prize of 3rd place, which is agreed upon to be one of the least interesting games at this tournament, it represents a unique opportunity that no other team gets at the World Cup in the knockout stages – one more game.

There is no doubt both France and England will come into this game with the fire of being given one last chance to show what they are capable off on the biggest stage of them all. It is a metaphysical battle in overcoming the deflation and dismay of losing at the second to last hurdle, and picking oneself of the floor for one last chance to get one over on one of the best teams in the world.

England vs France would have made a more than adequate final at this tournament with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele all potentially battling for the Golden Boot – at the height of their current powers.

The challenge for these world class players is now to cast that out of their minds for one last roll of the dice and to take home a sliver of hope for their fans.

Could we be in for another late night with England?

Thunderstorms are predicted at 10pm BST (5pm ET), with 32c temperatures, with a real feel of 42C.

Storms in Miami from 12pm local time, might not pass through until 6pm local time.

FIFA regulations state that the risk of lightning detected within an eight-mile radius of a stadium would enforce a one-hour delay or wait until the earliest time of play.

“My feeling or recollection of the game is so blurred still,” Stones said. “I’m in a state of all emotions, really.

“A lot of time since the game to reflect, play scenarios over in my head and it’s very easy to say ‘what if?’ and what we could have done, and me personally as well if I was in different positions. Yeah, it’s a tough thing to kind of get over or digest straight away and that’s the position and the cruel position that we’re in right now.

“I think it’ll become apparent and clear once the emotions die down. I think (France) coming round so quick is another good focus for us to go and get a bronze medal. Something that I’ve not been able to do.”

“We do have a match for the third place playoff, and there’s a duty,” Deschamps said.

“We have duties. I have duties, my staff has duties and so do the players. We have a responsibility to wear this jersey for all the French people who are cheering for us.

“I know it will be the last match and I also know that the French national team will be missed.

“I had the privilege for 15 years to be up here with this jersey, to experience magnificent moments, more difficult moments. The French national team is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me in my professional career.”

“None of us wanted to play in this game for third place,” Ibrahima Konate said.

“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.”

“I think everyone’s been allowed that grace period and is still going through suffering, pain,” said Stones. “A lot of things, a lot of emotions that are very natural to everyone.

“I think us as players can get quite fixated on anger or frustration from personal situations, circumstances throughout that game.

“But very quick to forget how proud we should be, or I am of every single person within our camp, our squad. The effort, the sacrifice, everything that that goes into it – not just players – that has got us to this point. The love and the belief and the support from back home. The fans in the stadium. All the moments, all the memories that that have been incredible throughout this journey.

“I think the nature of the game and the nature of us as players is we take things very personally, and that’s why we are where we are and why we are always striving for better, striving for more, and rightly so.

“We were all on the same path and the same wavelength, the same belief that we could get to the very end of this and believe that we could win it and I think everyone felt that.

“That’s why to go out in a semi-final hurts even more because we believe so much and didn’t get to where we believe we should be.”

Who could Thomas Tuchel rest against France?

Well, Jordan Pickford could come out for Dean Henderson.

And Kobbie Mainoo may play his first minutes of this World Cup, perhaps for the fatigued Declan Rice.

Predicted England XI: Henderson; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Mainoo, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane