Still plenty to play for in the World Cup third-place play-off
The biggest individual prize still on the line is the Golden Boot. France captain Kylian Mbappe and Argentina captain Lionel Messi are tied on eight goals, but Messi currently leads the standings with four assists compared with Mbappe's three.
England may have fallen short of the World Cup final, but Saturday's (18 July) third-place play-off against France still offers plenty to play for, from the Golden Boot race and a historic finish to opportunities for fringe players, BBC reports.
The biggest individual prize still on the line is the Golden Boot. France captain Kylian Mbappe and Argentina captain Lionel Messi are tied on eight goals, but Messi currently leads the standings with four assists compared with Mbappe's three.
Goals and assists in the third-place play-off count towards the Golden Boot, meaning Mbappe could overtake Messi with a goal or two assists before Argentina face Spain in Sunday's final.
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If he finishes as the tournament's top scorer, he would become the first player since Italy's Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 to win the Golden Boot with a goal in the third-place play-off. England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are also mathematically in contention. Both are two goals behind the leaders, although with fewer assists than Messi and Mbappe, either player would likely need a hat-trick to claim the award.
The match also presents England with the chance to secure their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966. A victory over France would earn them third place, improving on their fourth-place finishes in 1990 and 2018 after defeats to Italy and Belgium respectively in the bronze medal matches. Both managers could also use the occasion to rotate their squads after a demanding tournament.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is yet to play a minute and could make his World Cup debut, while Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney may also receive more game time. Declan Rice could be rested after his recent illness. France also have players waiting for an opportunity. Veteran midfielder N'Golo Kante has not featured at the tournament and, at 35, could make what may be his final World Cup appearance.
Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki, who has played only 85 minutes so far, is another player who could be handed a starting role.
The third-place play-off also marks one of the final opportunities to watch top-level competitive football before Europe's major domestic competitions resume, with the World Cup final on Sunday set to bring the tournament to a close.
