Deschamps exits with a 6–4 collapse as England take bronze

France ship six as England run riot in Deschamps' farewell

England 6–4 France. Ten goals in the third-place playoff. That was Didier Deschamps' final match after 14 years in charge, and the first half was a nightmare.

England were 4–1 up at the break. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick (1) (6). Jude Bellingham became the first Englishman to score seven at a single World Cup with a late strike (10). Rayan Cherki pulled one back and France rallied, but the damage was done.

Deschamps did not hide from it: "I could have made eight substitutions," he said at half-time (5). The French press called it "crazy, crazy" (1) (13).

Mbappé fronts up after the collapse

Kylian Mbappé did not deflect. "We can't allow ourselves to be human," the captain said, apologising for the first-half display (9). He also defended the outgoing manager: "The legend of Didier Deschamps will not be harmed" (8).

Saka, on the other side, kept it short: "It's done now, move on" (6).

Tuchel salutes England's mentality

Thomas Tuchel called the match "something very special" (4) (12). "We had a brilliant first half and then a turbulent second half. A massive compliment and full respect for the mentality that we showed" (4) (11).

England's best World Cup finish in 60 years.

Fan reactions

Michael Olise was reportedly in tears in the dressing room after the final whistle. Adrien Rabiot called the first-half entry "shameful" and certain attitudes "inadmissible", language you rarely hear from inside the camp. Meanwhile, reports are swirling that Zinédine Zidane will take over from Deschamps on September 1.

Olise in tears · Rabiot criticism · Zidane rumours