We’ve reached the final weekend of the World Cup, and while the eyes of the footballing world are naturally drawn to Sunday’s grand finale, there’s still the small matter of the Bronze Final to be settled. It’s a curious fixture, two sides who came into the semis as favourites, both expected to march into the showpiece, now left licking their wounds and fighting for third. It’s not where either wanted to be, but that’s the beauty of tournament football: anything less than your best gets punished, and both England and France were found wanting when it mattered most.
This game might not carry the glamour of the Final, but don’t be fooled, it’s still a clash of heavyweights, still a chance for players to chase personal glory, and still a market ripe for punters to exploit. Bronze medals don’t mean much in the history books, but they mean plenty to managers, players and fans who don’t want to fly home empty‑handed. And for us, it’s another opportunity to find value before the curtain comes down.
Odds provided by Stake.com.
France v England
World Cup Bronze Final, Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, USA, 11pm CET, Saturday 18th July
Prices: 1.86 France, 3.90 Draw, 3.75 England
England’s semi‑final defeat was a gut‑punch. They had Argentina on the ropes, only to implode with baffling tactical and personnel changes from Thomas Tuchel. The fallout has been ugly: Tuchel hammered in the press, players sulking, and the mood in camp flat. Declan Rice is out, Bukayo Saka won’t play, and Tuchel may well turn to his bench to give minutes to fringe players. He might even throw the shackles off in a bid to prove a point, but it feels like damage control more than defiance.
France, meanwhile, can at least lean on pedigree. They lifted the trophy in 2018, and their golden generation — Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Saliba — will get another shot in the years ahead. But this is Deschamps’ swansong. His players will want to deliver him a parting gift, and that matters. They’ll be without Saliba, but the headline is Mbappé. Tied with Messi for the Golden Boot, he’s certain to start, chasing the individual honour he craves. Kane and Bellingham would need hat‑tricks to catch him, so forget it. Mbappé scores, Messi gets the Golden Ball tomorrow, and FIFA get their perfect narrative: Messi crowned as the tournament’s genius, Mbappé rewarded as its executioner.
That’s the dynamic here: France motivated by Deschamps’ farewell and Mbappé’s chase, England deflated and rotating. Bronze finals often deliver chaos, players play with freedom, defences switch off, and the stakes are lower. That suits Mbappé perfectly, and it suits us too. Expect goals, expect drama, expect France to edge it.
Tip: France to win, over 2.5 goals in the match & Kyllian Mbappe to score @ 2.88. 1 unit.
Check out Tommy the Punter’s tipping record here.