England XI vs France: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for World Cup bronze final

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17 July 2026

Thomas Tuchel expected to freshen up

Three Lions

side for third-place play-off

Thomas Tuchel

is expected to make significant changes to his starting lineup when

England

face

France

in the

World Cup 2026

bronze final on Saturday.

The Three Lions will look to finish the tournament in third place

after

losing their semi-final 2-1 to Argentina

in heartbreaking late fashion in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Tuchel will alter his team back in sweltering Miami as he manages fatigue and looks to give minutes to players who have supported the squad but featured less than some of his regulars.

Captain

Harry Kane

and midfielder

Jude Bellingham

should both be keen to start the game, given they each have six goals and are still chasing the

World Cup

Golden Boot.

Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi currently lead the race

with eight goals apiece.

Reece James went off injured in the second half of the

Argentina

semi-final, so Tuchel may have to swap Djed Spence to the right of defence.

Declan Rice has looked notably fatigued during the tournament, having also battled illness, a calf issue and ongoing neural pain in his hamstring and lower back.

Time for a rest? Declan Rice has struggled with injury, illness and fatigue at the World Cup

The Arsenal star - rarely taken off by club or country - was substituted at half-time against Norway in the quarter-finals and again with 18 minutes to play against

Rice could be rested here, with Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo yet to play a single minute at this tournament.

At centre-back, Tuchel can select from Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones and Dan Burn, or hand a

debut to late call-up Trevoh Chalobah.

Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney will all be keen for more game time further forward after seeing their usage limited so far.

In goal, Tuchel has a decision to make over whether to stick with first-choice option Jordan Pickford or give either of his understudies - Dean Henderson and James Trafford - their first

minutes.

Tuchel has tended to use a 4-2-3-1 formation during the

, as have

Jordan Henderson remains unavailable due to the

freak arm injury he suffered celebrating the win over Mexico

, which

required surgery

Doubt:

James

Jude Bellingham clarifies Lionel Messi confrontation in England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina

The Independent

Tuchel-Bellingham ‘clash’ derails England as Argentina make ‘urgent request’ and Spidercam truth revealed

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You can pinpoint the moment Messi decided he was going to send Argentina to the World Cup final

Planet Football

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham explains heated exchange with Lionel Messi during World Cup semi-final

Get Spanish Football News

Jude Bellingham explains heated Lionel Messi exchange after England’s World Cup exit: ‘We were discussing…’

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