England secure best finish at World Cup since 1966 with incredible 6-4 win over France

England have secured their best finish at a World Cup since 1966 with a 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.

An absolutely thrilling game saw the Three Lions go in at half-time 4-0 up, thanks to goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka.

France mounted a comeback in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe getting a brace, Bradley Barcola chipping in and Ousmane Dembele scoring.

Goals from Saka, with a penalty, and a fantastic strike by Jude Bellingham mean England win 6-4 and conclude their World Cup with their second-best ever finish.

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England started brilliantly in the contest, with Rice getting on the scoresheet early doors.

The Arsenal midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and guided a delicate, curling strike into the bottom right corner to give the Three Lions the lead.

Shortly after, Marcus Rashford got himself in behind, striking goalwards, but it was well blocked.

There was a relaxed feel around the game, with neither side performing any dark arts, as was to be expected given the nature of the fixture.

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Saka had one strike given offside after going slightly too early with his run, before getting in behind again not long after, but his shot was well blocked by Maxence Lacroix.

From the resulting corner whipped in by Rice, Konsa rose brilliantly and glanced a beautiful header past Mike Maignan to put the Three Lions two up.

Mbappe got his first sniff on goal just before the half-hour mark, with Dean Henderson out quickly to deflect the ball before being cleared off the line by Marc Guehi. Fortunately for the pair, the flag was up anyway.

Saka got his first of the game to make it 3-0 after he and Marcus Rashford had a few goes on goal.

Rashford picked out Saka, who tucked home, with the French all over the place at the back.

The Arsenal winger didn't have to wait long for his second and the Three Lions' fourth, finishing with a cracking strike into the bottom right corner past Maignan to put England 4-0 up at half-time.

The second half saw France quickly get on the scoresheet, with Mbappe getting in behind and slotting past Henderson superbly to lead the race for the Golden Boot.

Not long after, Barcola joined him, with a cracking strike into the bottom left corner as France started to mount a comeback.

Les Bleus continued their relentless pressure, with Mbappe once again finishing fantastically into the bottom right corner, putting France just one behind.

Huge chances went begging for either side in the 81st minute, with Bellingham going close and Michael Olise having a golden opportunity, which he put wide.

As France continued to batter England, up stepped Djed Spence, who won a penalty for the Three Lions in a crucial moment.

Saka stepped up to get his hat-trick, but the game was not done there.

Dembele finally got himself on the scoresheet, curling home as France tried to force extra time.

Two minutes later, Les Bleus' hopes were crushed by Bellingham, who produced a moment of magic, weaving through the French defence and tucking away superbly.

England collected their bronze medals as the Three Lions' World Cup campaign ends on a positive note despite the heartbreak of the semi-final.

Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for his side following the thrilling contest.

"We had a brilliant first half and then a turbulent second half. You could see the difference of what one day makes and the difference in the schedule. We are so, so tired and drained from the last weeks.

"So a massive compliment and full respect - the mentality that we showed. Going through all the adversity is absolutely brilliant. I was afraid of the physical demands of the match. We know the quality and speed of France, and they have much less schedule for them. It was less demanding.

"They had one more day in between the semi-final to digest, and they had way less travel distances than us. We played in the heat, at altitude. I was worried physically. You could see it in the second half, the cramps and all the tiredness, but I was never worried about the mentality.

"I have said it before, this team has created something very special, and they showed it again," he told the BBC.

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