France vs England Predicted Lineups for World Cup 3rd Place Final

France and England meet in the World Cup 3rd Place Final, a heavyweight clash between two sides who have been among the most impressive teams in the tournament. Both topped their respective groups, with France finishing 1st in Group I on 9 points and a +8 goal difference, while England claimed 1st in Group L with 7 points and a +4 goal difference. This playoff for third place may not be the final either side wanted, but it remains a high-stakes showcase for two elite squads and a key focus for anyone tracking predicted lineups.

France’s group campaign was dominant: 3 wins from 3, 10 goals scored and only 2 conceded, underlining a balance of attacking firepower and defensive control. Their form line in the group reads LWWWW, with the loss coming outside the group phase, and they arrive with one of the tournament’s standout performers in Kylian Mbappé. England, meanwhile, navigated Group L with 2 wins and 1 draw, scoring 6 and conceding 2, also on an LWWWW sequence in the group stage, suggesting both teams come in with similarly strong underlying form despite recent setbacks in the knockouts.

The predictions model gives France a 45% chance of victory, England just 10%, and the draw also at 45%, underlining how tight this match could be over 90 minutes while still slightly favouring France in the double-chance market. With no official lineups yet available, this preview focuses on analytically built predicted lineups, expected starting lineup structures, and key team news for this World Cup showdown.

France Team News & Expected Lineups Today

No significant absences reported. With a full 26-man squad available and no listed injuries or suspensions, France’s manager is expected to lean heavily on the core that has carried them deep into the tournament. Their recent league form string in the competition phase reads WWWWWWL, highlighting a long winning streak before their semi-final exit.

Tactically, France are expected to maintain an attacking-minded shape built around Mbappé’s explosiveness and Ousmane Dembélé’s creativity, supported by a technically strong midfield. Given the stakes of the 3rd Place Final, rotation should be limited, and the predicted lineups today are likely to be close to full strength, especially in the attacking zones where their stars have delivered consistent end product.

France Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Maignan
DF: J. Koundé, I. Konaté, W. Saliba, T. Hernández
MF: A. Tchouaméni, A. Rabiot, N. Kanté, M. Olise, O. Dembélé
FW: Kylian Mbappé

This expected starting lineup keeps France’s tournament spine intact. Mike Maignan is the clear first-choice goalkeeper in a squad otherwise light on positional ambiguity between the posts. At the back, William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté offer a powerful, athletic central pairing, with Jules Koundé and Theo Hernández providing balance between defensive stability and forward thrust from full-back.

In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot give France control in build-up and progression, while N’Golo Kanté adds ball-winning and coverage in front of the defence. Higher up, the data points strongly to Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé as automatic selections: Olise leads the World Cup assist charts with 5 assists from 7 starts, while Dembélé has been one of the most productive wide players in the tournament with 5 goals and 2 assists, plus 16 key passes and 12 dribble attempts. Between them and Mbappé, France have a devastating creative and scoring trio.

Mbappé is the focal point of the attack and the standout name in any predicted lineups for France. With 8 goals and 3 assists, 30 shots (19 on target) and a tournament rating close to 8.0, he is both the primary finisher and a major creative outlet, ranking high in key passes and dribbles as well. Expect him to operate off the left or centrally, constantly testing England’s defensive line with runs in behind and 1v1 situations.

England Team News & Expected Lineups Today

No significant absences reported. England also arrive at this 3rd Place Final without any officially listed injuries or suspensions, giving their manager a full complement of 26 players to choose from. Their broader World Cup form line reads WDWWWWL, reflecting a strong run through the competition before falling just short of the final.

With lineups today expected to be close to full strength, England are likely to retain their core structure built around Declan Rice’s control in midfield and the attacking axis of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. The defensive unit has been generally solid, even if England have conceded slightly more than France over the tournament. The wide positions, where Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka have been among the leading chance creators, will be crucial to stretching France’s back line.

England Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: J. Pickford
DF: R. James, J. Stones, M. Guéhi, D. Burn
MF: D. Rice, J. Bellingham, K. Mainoo, A. Gordon, B. Saka
FW: H. Kane

Jordan Pickford is expected to continue in goal, having started the bulk of England’s matches. In defence, John Stones is the natural organiser, with Marc Guéhi a logical partner given his inclusion in the squad and profile as a central defender. Reece James offers attacking thrust and delivery from the right, while Dan Burn provides height and defensive security on the left.

In midfield, Declan Rice is a near-certain starter given his volume of minutes and influence. He has 2 yellow cards and also appears among the top red card listings, underlining his combative role in front of the back four. Alongside him, Jude Bellingham is one of England’s standout performers: 6 goals and 1 assist, 223 passes at strong accuracy, and a high duel involvement (84 duels, 44 won). Kobbie Mainoo is a strong candidate to complete the midfield trio, adding energy and balance.

In the attacking band, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka both feature prominently in the top assists list, each with 3 assists. Gordon has also chipped in with a goal and is heavily involved in duels and dribbles, while Saka has combined his 3 assists with strong defensive work (10 tackles) and efficient dribbling. Up front, Harry Kane is the obvious choice as the central striker, with 6 goals and 1 assist and a high shot volume (18 shots, 12 on target). This gives England a predicted starting lineup with significant goal threat and creativity across the front line.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With both squads listed as fully available and no missing or questionable players recorded, the 3rd Place Final should be decided purely on tactical choices and execution rather than enforced changes. That increases the reliability of the predicted lineups and reduces uncertainty for analysts and bettors.

France Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

England Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

This matchup sets France’s high-powered, technically gifted attack against an England side that blends structure with individual brilliance. France’s expected setup, with Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise all in the same starting lineup, suggests a focus on aggressive wide play and dynamic transitions. Dembélé and Olise both rank among the tournament’s leading chance creators, combining for 7 goals and 7 assists, while Mbappé’s direct running and shot volume make him the primary reference point. Behind them, a midfield trio of Tchouaméni, Rabiot and Kanté should give France the platform to press selectively and dominate central zones.

England’s predicted shape mirrors France’s in several key areas. They have their own elite attacking axis in Bellingham and Kane, supported by creative wide players Gordon and Saka. Bellingham’s numbers – 6 goals, 1 assist, strong passing and duels – make him England’s main ball-carrying threat between the lines, while Kane operates as both finisher and link man, dropping in to connect play with runners beyond. On the flanks, Gordon and Saka will look to exploit any space behind France’s full-backs, particularly if Theo Hernández and Jules Koundé push high.

The midfield battle between Rice and France’s trio is likely to be decisive. Rice’s passing accuracy and defensive positioning are critical to shielding England’s centre-backs from Mbappé’s inside runs and Dembélé’s dribbles. Conversely, France will try to overload the half-spaces around Bellingham, preventing him from driving forward. The comparison indices underline how tight this is: the overall comparison index stands at 61.3 for France against 38.8 for England, with the form and attack indices at 50–50, but France leading the defence index 67–33. The Poisson index is also relatively close at 53–47 in favour of France, suggesting a marginal edge in expected goal output but not a one-sided contest.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest a finely balanced 3rd Place Final, but with a slight tilt towards France. Both teams have strong recent records and high-scoring attacking units, yet France’s defensive metrics and the presence of the tournament’s top scorer in Mbappé give them a narrow advantage. The prediction model assigns France a 45% chance of winning in regular time, with a 45% probability of a draw and only 10% for an England victory, reinforcing the view that France are more likely to lift third place, even if extra time or penalties remain a real possibility.

Given the goal lines are projected conservatively (with expectations pointing under 2.5 goals for both sides), a tight, cagey match with moments of individual brilliance feels the most plausible scenario. France’s ability to convert those moments through Mbappé and Dembélé, combined with a slightly stronger defensive profile, nudges the verdict in their favour.

Predicted Outcome: France 1–1 England (France to edge it after regular time or on penalties)

How to Watch France vs England Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local sports broadcaster / streaming platform
• UK: National football rights holder / main sports channel
• USA / North America: Major soccer network / streaming service
• South America: Regional sports network with World Cup rights
• MENA: Pan-regional sports broadcaster / satellite platform