France, for the first time since way back in 2014, won’t be playing in the World Cup final. They got absolutely swamped 2-0 by pre-tournament favorites Spain in the semifinal, continuing their struggles against La Roja. Kylian Mbappe and the French squad are now focused on securing third place this Saturday against England.
Mbappe’s Golden Boot Grind
Can you believe it? French superstar Kylian Mbappe, despite his incredible tournament, was held completely off the score sheet against Spain on Tuesday. He had some good looks, too! That shutout loss was just the second time in seven World Cup matches this year where Mbappe didn’t score a goal, and the first time he was kept off the stat sheet entirely. Remember that 4-1 win over Norway? He had two assists in that one, showing he’s always involved. But with the Golden Boot on the line, he’s tied with Messi at eight goals heading into the weekend, and a shot at the all-time World Cup record for goals scored, you know Mbappe is going to be fired up. He’s got to be motivated to finish this World Cup with a flourish against England. SportsLine experts like Jon Eimer and Martin Green are eyeing him at -135 odds to score. This guy doesn’t quit.
England’s Heartbreak And Bellingham’s Brilliance
Across the pitch, England is still reeling from their “heartbreaking” 2-1 loss to Argentina, especially after giving up those two late goals. Ouch. You know that stings! But talk about a tournament for Jude Bellingham! He’s been absolutely incredible, especially that two-goal performance against Norway in the quarterfinal round. Even with the pain of the semifinal defeat, Bellingham, Harry Kane, and the rest of the squad have plenty to play for in the third-place match. Both Kane and Bellingham are definitely worthy anytime goalscorer picks. But if you’re looking for value, Bellingham is the play at +240 odds. He’s had the “hot hand,” or, well, “foot” of late, and that makes him a stronger bet than England’s veteran striker right now.
So, this Saturday, it’s France vs. England in Miami at 5 p.m. ET. It’s a clash of two European powerhouses fighting for third place. It might not be the final, but with Mbappe chasing history and Bellingham looking to cap off an incredible run, you know both teams will be leaving it all out there for pride. Then, get ready for the big one on Sunday, as Argentina, with the legendary Lionel Messi, aims to repeat as World Cup champs against Spain.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply