France vs England Live Updates: Declan Rice Gives Lead To Three Lions In FIFA World Cup 2026 3rd Place Match— WATCH Video
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England have shocked the footballing world in South Florida with a sensational, blistering start. Thomas Tuchel’s tactical changes have paid instant dividends as the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off on July 18 gets underway with a bang at the Miami Stadium. But in the first twenty minutes of the game, the Three Lions have stormed to a 2-0 lead over cross-Channel rivals France, completely reversing the pre-match tactical dynamic.
Lightening Fast Goal
Almost from the opening whistle there was an explosion of action. In the 3rd minute of the match, Midfielder Declan Rice took advantage of a French defensive mistake. Rice pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty box and fired home a decisive strike to beat French custodian Mike Maignan and open the scoring and put England ahead 1-0.
🚨 Declan Rice superb strike !!!
🇫🇷 France 0-1 England 🏴
pic.twitter.com/2ySgHLsFcu
— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) July 18, 2026
The early goal clearly unsettled Didier Deschamps’ men, who looked defensively disjointed without the injured Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. Rayan Cherki and Warren Zaïre-Emery were pinned back by England’s high press and the French found it difficult to push the ball through the lines.
Konsa Doubles Lead
England didn’t sit on their slender advantage but continued to probe the French backline mercilessly. The pressure was kept up and finally in the 18th minute it was rewarded from a corner. Defender Ezri Konsa delivered a well-timed ball into the penalty box that caught the French markers flat-footed. Konsa then slotted the ball past a helpless Maignan in expert fashion to hit the back of the net as England went 2-0 up.
A rapid-fire cushion leaves France with a steep mountain to climb to secure a victorious farewell for the outgoing Deschamps. Kylian Mbappé leads the line but is not receiving the service he needs and the French attack has not tested Three Lions keeper Dean Henderson much. The match in Miami is just over half an hour old and the rotated side of Thomas Tuchel is totally in control. It looks like, the bronze medal of the tournament is coming home.
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