The World Cup third-place play-off, dubbed the Bronze Final by FIFA, is happening Saturday with England facing France in Miami. But honestly, if you listen to the coaches and players, it’s a match nobody even wants to play. France head coach Didier Deschamps laid it out cold, saying, “The best for France and England would be for this match not to exist.” England manager Thomas Tuchel, after that tough loss to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday night, mirrored that sentiment perfectly, stating, “None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match.” It’s a game that’s been around for 72 years, a regular fixture since 1954, but the vibe from the locker rooms is still a massive sigh.
The Mindset Shift: From Dread to Desire?
Even with all that initial negativity, things can shift. Tuchel, speaking to the media on Friday, sounded a whole lot more positive about the chance to grab that bronze. “If we win the game tomorrow, we have the best results of a World Cup in 60 years. It’s a perspective to it,” he said. Talk about a mindset shift! For England, who have competed in this match twice since 1966 and lost both times (to Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018), getting a bronze would be a huge deal historically. This match also offers a chance for players who haven’t seen much action, like England’s James Trafford or Kobbie Mainoo, to finally get some World Cup minutes. Still, not everyone’s buying in. Ibrahima Konate, the French defender who only logged 14 minutes against a rotated Norway side in the group stage, summed it up perfectly: “Not one of us want to play this game for third place, but we don’t have the choice.” Harsh, but real.
Why FIFA Keeps It: More Than Just Medals
So why do they keep playing this “unwanted tie”? Turns out, there’s a lot more to it than just handing out a medal. FIFA doesn’t publish a huge defense of it, but everyone knows the reasons:
- It decides who officially gets bronze and who finishes fourth in the final standings.
- Those standings, historical records, and player statistics? This match affects them.
- There’s a fat difference in prize money: a cool $2 million (almost £1.5 million) separates third and fourth place. That’s no small change!
- It’s another game for the fans who paid for tickets and travel, and a huge bonus for broadcasters and commercial partners in what’s already a record-breaking 104-match tournament.
And let’s not forget the sporting case: it’s launched Golden Boot winners! Four of the seven players who scored goals in the third-place play-off actually *needed* those goals to snatch the award. Think Thomas Muller (2010), Davor Suker (1998), Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and Leonidas of Brazil (1938). Others like Grzegorz Lato (1974), Eusebio (1966), and Just Fontaine (1958) also won the award after scoring in it. Croatia showed everyone how to embrace it in 2022, with manager Zlatko Dalic saying their 2-1 win over Morocco for bronze “has a golden layer,” feeling “like we have won the gold medal tonight.” Mislav Orsic, who scored the winner, even called it the most important goal of his career.
So, while players might dread stepping onto that pitch in Miami, there’s no denying the Bronze Final has more on the line than just bragging rights. It’s history, it’s personal stats, and yeah, it’s a chunk of change. Will England or France find their “golden layer” like Croatia did? We’ll find out Saturday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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