England wrapped up their 2026 World Cup run securing third place with an absolutely wild 6-4 victory over France, and man, did Bukayo Saka ever put on a show! The Arsenal superstar, who’d been controversially benched in the semi-final, went out and hammered home a hat-trick, reminding literally everyone what he brings to the pitch. Talk about making a statement, right?
Saka’s Hat Trick Was a Giant Clapback to the Critics
Remember all the chatter after Saka remained an unused sub in England’s semi-final loss to Argentina? It was a massive head-scratcher. Well, our guy responded in the most emphatic way possible against France. His first goal? Just a pure poacher’s instinct, reacting quickest after Marcus Rashford’s effort got saved. Then, right on the stroke of half-time, Eberechi Eze threaded a brilliant pass that Saka slotted home for his second, pushing England to a commanding 4-0 lead. France tried to mount a comeback, with Kylian Mbappé grabbing a brace, plus goals from Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, but Saka wasn’t done. He buried a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick, becoming only the fourth England player to score three goals in a World Cup match. He even told SkySports he wanted more time on the field, saying, “Of course, I would love to have played more. But of course, it’s not the time to talk about that. I try to do my talking on the pitch. It’s done now. Move on.” And yeah, he’s totally fit, confirming, “Yeah, I’m fit. I’m fit.” Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, had to praise his performance, stating, “Bukayo showed he was a key player; that was never a doubt.” Tuchel even tried to spin the semi-final benching as a tactical call, not a fitness issue. Sounds a little like revisionist history after a performance like that, doesn’t it?
Declan Rice Proved He’s England’s Unstoppable Engine
And let’s not forget the absolute rock in midfield, Declan Rice. He just reinforced his importance to both England and Arsenal with another dominant performance. Rice actually opened the scoring himself, cashing in on a sloppy French pass. Later, he whipped in the corner that Konsa headed home to double England’s advantage. There were some worries about his fitness during the tournament, but man, he looked back to his energetic best as he captained England through that insane game. Leading them to a four-goal lead before surviving France’s spirited fightback? That’s leadership right there. France really pushed for an unlikely comeback, but Jude Bellingham eventually sealed the 6-4 victory deep in stoppage time. This incredible third-place finish? It’s England’s best World Cup showing since they actually won the whole thing back in 1966. What a way to cap off the summer, seriously!
So, with the World Cup final officially today, you know attention shifts fast. For Saka and Rice, that means turning their focus back to north London. Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are gearing up to defend their Premier League title, and you gotta think these two are bringing a ton of confidence back with them after an outstanding tournament finish like this. Get ready, Gunners fans, because these guys are coming in hot!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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