Full Time: 3rd/4th Play Off: France 4 England 6 (Rice, Konsa, Saka 3, Bellingham)

[Ghost]

Watkins didn't play a minute, he might be keen to play

Even though he's a bit of tw*t, it would be nice to see Ollie get a chance in this.

 

[Banana]

I'm only going to watch for the half-time show.

 

[grepo]

Nations League I'll give you but 3rd place - nobody in world football cares just makes you the winning loser

Would it not affect World ranking, for what it's worth. Are there any tangible benefits from that?

 

[BaildonBee]

Can anyone make a sporting case for this game to exist? I remember 1990 when the best action came from the suspended Gazza on the bench!

 

[abeeforever]

Giving this one a miss as it's a pointless exercise, not bothering with the final either as it will feature at least a 25 minute Super Bowl style half time break that has no place for proper football matches, its only geared up for American advertisers just like the so called hydration break that's built round advertising and not players welfare, last nights match was played in a fully air condition stadium, so why was a break needed?

 

[SpiderBee]

I wouldn’t bother.

instead I’d do a world wide poll and see which 2 nation people want to see play each other that didn’t and that can be the game

No one wants to be there

I actually like that. England v Scotland?

 

[zuko]

Watkins didn't play a minute, he might be keen to play

He had six minutes against Panama, what more does he want?!

 

[BuzzingBee95]

I actually like that. England v Scotland?

Exactly!

As soon as a side are knocked out they enter a draw alongside the other nation most recently eliminated and worldwide fans have 24 hours to vote how they’d rather see in one final game

 

[SpiderBee]

A sort of FIFA Charity Shield but FIFA bin the dosh.
Or 2 countries that didn't make the world cup finals.
Italy v Chile would be fun.

 

[KenCootesNephew]

It's not about the winning, it's about taking part !......

... said some fu*kin' tw@t

 

[Jezybee]

A sort of FIFA Charity Shield but FIFA bin the dosh.
Or 2 countries that didn't make the world cup finals.
Italy v Chile would be fun.

A re-enactment of the battle of Santiago?
Refereed by an Englishman (Ken Aston) who manhandled fighting / wrestling players and would later be instrumental in the introduction of yellow & red cards.

Although very much the undercard, every match against France should be taken seriously. Suspect by Saturday the players will have dealt with most of the disappointment and will look forward to finishing the tournament in style. They're professionals. Maybe naive, but I for one will be watching.

 

[big neil]

It’s just an anachronism.
I get the olympics one because there’s a Bronze medal up for grabs but this is a waste of time.
I assume we’ve lost all the times we’ve been involved in this meaningless fixture?

 

[TW1Bee]

It’s just an anachronism.
I get the olympics one because there’s a Bronze medal up for grabs but this is a waste of time.
I assume we’ve lost all the times we’ve been involved in this meaningless fixture?

Twice 1990 lost to Italy 2-1
2018 lost to Belgium 2-0

 

[Chomp]

Twice 1990 lost to Italy 2-1
2018 lost to Belgium 2-0

Might as well go for the treble then.

 

[bajenleker]

I think these kind of games need at least one smaller nation.
If Norway was to take part they would surely make a meal of it.
After all, there were 10s of thousands celebrating their loss to England.
But now with two of the big guns, no need to play.
My country won a bronze-medal in 1994, and it’s still some kind of milestone.

Just my two cents.

 

[WarrenBee]

Do the winners get a place in next seasons FA Cup?

 

[Andrelux]

Do the winners get a place in next seasons FA Cup?

No, but their U21s get to play in the EFL Trophy.

 

[AlwaysBees]

Got to start with 4 at the back, Reece James left wing, Dan Burn right wing, defensive mid Konza, Spence false number 9, not sure if I can fit another defender in!

 

[shaun]

Hopefully all the players who have not played/ played very little get a match.

 

[Paul O'Brien]

100%.
Mind you, how long until some chinless wonder suggests a third place game for the losing FA Cup semi finalists?

They used to have this in the early 70s

 

[nick logan]

After several beverages today I am now up for this , let’s end a great sunny drunken month on a high

 

[IslandBee]

Third would be our second best finish ever so perhaps its worth bothering about a little

 

[aawharris]

Got to start with 4 at the back, Reece James left wing, Dan Burn right wing, defensive mid Konza, Spence false number 9, not sure if I can fit another defender in!

Quansah is back...

 

[SpiderBee]

A re-enactment of the battle of Santiago?
Refereed by an Englishman (Ken Aston) who manhandled fighting / wrestling players and would later be instrumental in the introduction of yellow & red cards.

Although very much the undercard, every match against France should be taken seriously. Suspect by Saturday the players will have dealt with most of the disappointment and will look forward to finishing the tournament in style. They're professionals. Maybe naive, but I for one will be watching.

 

[SpiderBee]

A re-enactment of the battle of Santiago?
Refereed by an Englishman (Ken Aston) who manhandled fighting / wrestling players and would later be instrumental in the introduction of yellow & red cards.

Although very much the undercard, every match against France should be taken seriously. Suspect by Saturday the players will have dealt with most of the disappointment and will look forward to finishing the tournament in style. They're professionals. Maybe naive, but I for one will be watching.

Think they came in 1970 after Rattin 66

 

[WarrenBee]

Dear FIFA, we've come home. You can shove your 3rd V 4th play off game where the sun doesn't shine.

Yours

The FA.

 

[Janemalc]

This is the first game in the build up to the Euros, so chances are for those who have not had a look in to shine in a non friendly game with France!

 

[Leonardo]

Roll the changes. Im sure France are as well. Anderson and Rice need to put their feet up. And Pickford needs to be dropped as mostly poor from him.


Trafford
Spence Stones Konsa OReilly
James Mainnoo
Rashford Bellingham Eze
Kane

 

[BEEcool]

This article has somehow achieved the impossible of making me care even less...

World Cup 2026: Why you should still care about England v France third-place play-off

It might feel like the last thing anyone wants right now - but here is why, actually, you do want to watch the World Cup's third-place play-off.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JANORAK]

Would it not affect World ranking, for what it's worth. Are there any tangible benefits from that?

Auction all the leftover kit (signed) from the bus, in the car park?

 

[Banana]

Match #103
Third Place Game
18 July 2026, 23:00 CET
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
FRANCE - ENGLAND
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Morendo VEN
Fourth Official: Jalal Jayed MAR
Reserve AR: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
Video Assistant Referee: Leodan Gonzalez URU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Armando Villarreal USA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Standby Video Assistant Referee: : Juan Soto VEN
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Juan Lara CHI

 

[longtimeagobee]

Anderson and Rice need to put their feet up.

No! Play them & all the Prem regulars for 90mins & extra time. Wear the buggers out , better for Bees next season

 

[Wooburn Bee]

Win lose or draw who cares ?
Should make ELEVEN changes, give the players who have trained hard for the past 6 - 7 weeks knowing they haven't got a cat in hells chance of ever getting on the pitch a full 90 mins

That’s exactly what will happen

 

[Wooburn Bee]

Roll the changes. Im sure France are as well. Anderson and Rice need to put their feet up. And Pickford needs to be dropped as mostly poor from him.


Trafford
Spence Stones Konsa OReilly
James Mainnoo
Rashford Bellingham Eze
Kane

James definitely won’t be playing. Quansah will. Stones also won’t. Kane probably not either.

 

[Leonardo]

James definitely won’t be playing. Quansah will. Stones also won’t. Kane probably not either.

In that case Spence can go KB, Quansah RB and OReilly CM

 

[Rob-BEE]

There's probably an argument that France and England have the strongest second XIs in the WC, so at least we'll have a chance to (not) watch them playing each other

 

[Bigruss]

1.2K reactions · 545 shares | Literally the most pointless game.. #WorldCup2026 | Terence Carvalho

Literally the most pointless game.. #WorldCup2026

www.facebook.com

 

[SmiffyBee]

No Kane or Bellingham.
Disappointed as I thought they might want or want to be given the chance of the golden boot.
Henderson in goals.
Toney up front !

 

[aawharris]

Mainoo not starting is the funniest thing ever.
There are literally a billion Man Utd fans exploding as we speak

 

[nick logan]

Mainoo not starting is the funniest thing ever.
There are literally a billion Man Utd fans exploding as we speak

lol , well in TT

 

[Rob-BEE]

Mainoo not starting is the funniest thing ever.
There are literally a billion Man Utd fans exploding as we speak

He's not listed on the bench either so maybe he's injured?

 

[Untouchable]

He's not listed on the bench either so maybe he's injured?

He is.


View: https://x.com/england/status/2078564970162270704?s=46&t=SQP7mje7Pimu8X-ugPnQnQ

 

[80s Bee]

Saka fit enough to start so why the hell didn’t we see him at all on Wednesday?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

What formation are we playing? Rice at right back?

 

[Banana]

Surprised Kane isn't being given to opportunity of a Golden Boot.

 

[Untouchable]

What formation are we playing? Rice at right back?

This is what the BBC think:

 

[HaylingBee74]

Is it being televised or have they run out of money to show it?

 

[Banana]

How come Saka is suddenly fit enough to start?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

This is what the BBC think:

View attachment 67330

That makes sense but Quansah wasn't on that tweet.

 

[Banana]

Is it being televised or have they run out of money to show it?

It's on BBC1