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World Cup: England and France set for another clash

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World Cup: England and France set for another clash

2026 World Cup Final Set: Spain‑Argentina Championship & France‑England Third‑Place Battle

Spain Leads the Field with Unbeaten Form

La Roja has dominated the tournament, allowing just a single goal across seven matches and looking virtually unstoppable. Their disciplined back line has kept opponents at bay, while the attack, though not always flashy, has shown enough threat to suggest they can score when needed. Lionel Messi will be the man tasked with breaking down this fortress, and his presence makes the final a true test of Spain’s resilience. With a flawless defensive record, Spain enters the championship weekend as the clear favorite.

Argentina Rides a Wave of Knockout Momentum

Argentina has ripped through the knockout stage, winning four straight games in high‑octane fashion and proving they can produce in pressure situations. The semi‑final clash with England boiled over into a 2‑1 thriller, with Enzo Fernandez’s long‑range strike followed by Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage‑time winner sealing the comeback. Messi’s leadership and occasional breakthrough moments have been crucial, and the team’s ability to chase a deficit sets them up as a dangerous opponent for Spain. Despite Spain’s defensive perfection, Argentina’s attacking flair and recent heroics keep the final a genuine coin‑flip.

France and England Face a Pointless Third‑Place Showdown

The third‑place game should not exist, yet it forces both semifinal losers onto a sweltering July afternoon in South Florida, a scenario most players would rather avoid. France is hampered by injuries, most notably William Saliba’s back problem that forced his absence after months of playing through pain, while Kylian Mbappé was unable to find the net in a 2‑0 loss to Spain. England’s squad includes several players who saw limited minutes, such as Kobbie Mainoo, who did not feature at all, hinting at a leisurely affair for the fans. This match is widely viewed as a cruel indulgence, with the players more interested in packing bags and resting than in competing for a discredited prize.

1 / 16

See Argentina celebrate semifinal victory over England

Argentina mounted a stunning win with two late goals, including one in stoppage time, to defeat England and reach their second straight World Cup final.

(Buda Mendes, Getty Images)

LOSERS’ BRACKET

The third-place game should not exist. Since it does, this writer advocates for each team putting forth as little effort as possible and doing everything to make sure that nobody gets hurt. It is an utterly pointless match between 52 players who – understandably – really just want to go home and take a nap.

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This game taking place outdoors in South Florida in the middle of July is simply cruel to everybody involved.

3. France

Falling short of a third consecutive trip to the World Cup final, Kylian Mbappé was held scoreless in the 2‑0 semifinal loss to Spain. Defender William Saliba finally succumbed to a back injury that he probably shouldn’t have been playing through for a month in the extreme temperatures.

Again, nobody wants to be here, but it’s a good opportunity for some of France’s younger players like 20-year-old Warren Zaïre‑Emery and 22-year-old Rayan Cherki to show off and stake their claims. Also, N’Golo Kanté should get a proper send‑off after not playing at all in the World Cup.

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Thomas Tuchel is getting a lot of heat for his team dropping off after going ahead 1-0 in the second half, ultimately maintaining just 12% possession after Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute. England switched to a back five in the 72nd, replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa. That invited more pressure from the Argentines, who still couldn’t find a way through until Enzo Fernandez’s long-range stunner. Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in stoppage time.

How England comes at the third-place game is going to be interesting. Kobbie Mainoo didn’t play a single minute and we’ll surely(?) see him and maybe World Cup fans will get a full 90-minute Dan Burn experience.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup power rankings: England and France forced to play another game

2026 World Cup Final Set: Spain‑Argentina Championship & France‑England Third‑Place Battle

Spain Leads the Field with Unbeaten Form

La Roja has dominated the tournament, allowing just a single goal across seven matches and looking virtually unstoppable. Their disciplined back line has kept opponents at bay, while the attack, though not always flashy, has shown enough threat to suggest they can score when needed. Lionel Messi will be the man tasked with breaking down this fortress, and his presence makes the final a true test of Spain’s resilience. With a flawless defensive record, Spain enters the championship weekend as the clear favorite.

Argentina Rides a Wave of Knockout Momentum

Argentina has ripped through the knockout stage, winning four straight games in high‑octane fashion and proving they can produce in pressure situations. The semi‑final clash with England boiled over into a 2‑1 thriller, with Enzo Fernandez’s long‑range strike followed by Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage‑time winner sealing the comeback. Messi’s leadership and occasional breakthrough moments have been crucial, and the team’s ability to chase a deficit sets them up as a dangerous opponent for Spain. Despite Spain’s defensive perfection, Argentina’s attacking flair and recent heroics keep the final a genuine coin‑flip.

France and England Face a Pointless Third‑Place Showdown

The third‑place game should not exist, yet it forces both semifinal losers onto a sweltering July afternoon in South Florida, a scenario most players would rather avoid. France is hampered by injuries, most notably William Saliba’s back problem that forced his absence after months of playing through pain, while Kylian Mbappé was unable to find the net in a 2‑0 loss to Spain. England’s squad includes several players who saw limited minutes, such as Kobbie Mainoo, who did not feature at all, hinting at a leisurely affair for the fans. This match is widely viewed as a cruel indulgence, with the players more interested in packing bags and resting than in competing for a discredited prize.

1 / 16

See Argentina celebrate semifinal victory over England

Argentina mounted a stunning win with two late goals, including one in stoppage time, to defeat England and reach their second straight World Cup final.

(Buda Mendes, Getty Images)

LOSERS’ BRACKET

The third-place game should not exist. Since it does, this writer advocates for each team putting forth as little effort as possible and doing everything to make sure that nobody gets hurt. It is an utterly pointless match between 52 players who – understandably – really just want to go home and take a nap.

Advertisement

This game taking place outdoors in South Florida in the middle of July is simply cruel to everybody involved.

3. France

Falling short of a third consecutive trip to the World Cup final, Kylian Mbappé was held scoreless in the 2‑0 semifinal loss to Spain. Defender William Saliba finally succumbed to a back injury that he probably shouldn’t have been playing through for a month in the extreme temperatures.

Again, nobody wants to be here, but it’s a good opportunity for some of France’s younger players like 20-year-old Warren Zaïre‑Emery and 22-year-old Rayan Cherki to show off and stake their claims. Also, N’Golo Kanté should get a proper send‑off after not playing at all in the World Cup.

Advertisement

Buy France vs England tickets

Thomas Tuchel is getting a lot of heat for his team dropping off after going ahead 1-0 in the second half, ultimately maintaining just 12% possession after Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute. England switched to a back five in the 72nd, replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa. That invited more pressure from the Argentines, who still couldn’t find a way through until Enzo Fernandez’s long-range stunner. Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in stoppage time.

How England comes at the third-place game is going to be interesting. Kobbie Mainoo didn’t play a single minute and we’ll surely(?) see him and maybe World Cup fans will get a full 90-minute Dan Burn experience.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup power rankings: England and France forced to play another game

Content Credit: This article was originally published on
sports.yahoo.com.

Image Credit: Featured image and media assets sourced directly from the original publisher.
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