Saka Hat-Trick Fires England to 6-4 World Cup Third-Place Win Over France

LONDON — Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday, according to The Guardian. The result gave England a podium finish at the tournament.

Saka struck three times in an entertaining, high-scoring contest that produced ten goals, The Guardian reported. France, runners-up at the previous edition, were beaten in the decider for third place.

The victory capped a strong campaign for England, who had lost their semi-final to Argentina earlier in the week, Flashscore.com reported on 16 July. France's defeat extended a difficult run in the knockouts.

The match was the highest-scoring fixture of the tournament, underlining the attacking quality on show, The Guardian said.

World Cup 2026 has drawn record global audiences under its expanded format. England's third-place finish marks a milestone for the squad.

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