France v England LIVE: World Cup 2026 bronze final team news and latest updates

“We have the chance to have the best World Cup finish since 60 years, so it’s quite a big one to play in even if it does not feel like it at all.” Tuchel told the BBC

“Until the semi-final I think everyone would agree that France are top favourites in this tournament. They won eight years ago. They were in the final four years ago. They were in the Nations League final. They were on their way to the final and seemed the strongest team in the tournament and in the strongest form and had a total day off in the semi-final and got knocked out.

“It tells you we’re on the same stage as them, playing for third place, very, very difficult opponent but like I said yesterday we feel that there’s still a slight gap between us and the top three teams. Today we try to close that gap and compete and try to get that win because it’s an important one for us.”

Just this afternoon it has been reported that Chelsea and Aston Villa have agreed a £117 million deal for the 23 year old who will start against France tonight.

The mercurial talent will sign a reported six year deal and will go for his medical at Chelsea once he has returned from his international duties.

Arsenal were in the race for Roger’s services but Chelsea and Xabi Alonso have won that race it would seem.

England: Anderson, Bellingham, Burn, Chalobah, Gordon, Henderson, James, Kane, Madueke, O’Reilly, Pickford, Stones, Trafford, Watkins.

France: Alikouche, Barcola, Dembele, Digne, L. Hernandez, Kante, Kone, Kounde, Mateta, Risser, Saliba, Bamba, Tchouameni, Thuram, Upamecano

“Its been tough, obviously we all thought it was the one, unfortunate it wasn’t but we have to regroup, we have to pick ourselves up and we have to try and finish the tournament on a high.

“I’ve always been hungry for this opportunity. It was frustrating that I only got a few minutes that’s how football goes sometimes. Today is my chance to prove I should have got more minutes maybe.

“Hopefully we can bring goals and hopefully finish the tournament on a win.”

It looks as though, to the best of his ability, has kept the spine of his team intact with Rabiot, Mbappe, Olise and Maignan keeping their starting places, but it is all change elsewhere as Cherki gets the start some have thought he deserved.

Out wide, Barcola, Dembele, Digne and Kounde are all to sit the bench as well.

Mbappe is on the hunt for the Golden Boot…

Tuchel has gone big on changes to his starting team, bringing in six new starters – Henderson, Quansah, Eze, Rashford, Saka, Konsa and Toney.

Pickford, James, Bellingham, Gordon, John Stones, Harry Kane and Elliot Anderson are all resigned to the bench and Rogers moves back to central midfield.

Kane’s exclusion also means that Rice will take the armband

Mainoo has also been ruled out through injury and will end his World Cup with no minutes played.

Here are England and Frances starting teams for the FIFA 2026 World Cup Bronze Final.

England: Henderson, Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence, Rice, Saka, Eze, Rogers, Rashford, Toney.

France: Maignan, Gusto, Konate, Lacroix, Hernandez, Zaire-Emery, Rabiot, Olise, Cherki, Doue, Mbappe