France vs England Prediction: Mbappe to bag brace in bid to claim back-to-back Golden Boots

The 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place play-off will take place between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida this Saturday (5pm local, 10pm BST, BBC One) after Les Bleus and the Three Lions lost in the semi-finals, 2-0 to Spain and 2-1 to Argentina, respectively.

Below are my France vs England predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this bronze medal game at Hard Rock Stadium.

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Team News

France head coach Didier Deschamps could make several changes to the side that lined up against Spain on Tuesday.

William Saliba is ruled out after coming off in the 30th minute with a back injury, with Maxence Lacroix, who replaced the Arsenal defender against La Roja, set to make his second start of the tournament.

The likes of Robin Risser, Ibrahima Konate, Warren Zaire-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta are all eyeing up a first start of the tournament, but back-up goalkeeper Brice Samba is likely out with a calf injury.

World Cup Odds

Likewise, England boss Thomas Tuchel may switch things up on Saturday.

Dean Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford could earn promotions to the Three Lions' starting XI, with the likes of Declan Rice and Reece James, both of whom have struggled with issues in this tournament, unlikely to be risked.

Jordan Henderson (wrist) is probably out again, too, but Jarell Quansah, who served a two-game suspension for a red card received in his country's 3-2 last-16 success over Mexico, is available for selection again.

Star men Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane may keep their starting spots, though, as they chase the Golden Boot.

France vs England Odds

France have won the last two head-to-heads, prevailing 3-2 in a June 2017 friendly and 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Les Bleus are 5/6 to make it three regulation time wins in a row, implying a 54.5% probability of success, while England are 5/2, or a 28.6% chance, in the 90-minute market to record their first victory over Deschamps' side since Dele Allie and Wayne Rooney helped to down them 2-0 in a November 2015 friendly.

The draw, which would send the tie to extra-time, is offered at 3/1, with France and England 1/2 and 6/4, respectively, in the To Win Tie market.

At the time of writing, Betfred are offering six Price Boosts for this fixture, including Kane To Score Anytime at 5/4 (was 11/10).

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Multi Scorers - Kylian Mbappe (FRA) to score 2 or more goals @ 3/1

Third place might be scant consolation for France, but their talisman, Kylian Mbappe, still has a big prize in his sights.

The 27-year-old is level at the top of the scoring charts with Argentina's Lionel Messi, who will take on Spain in Sunday's final. Both players have scored eight goals at this tournament, but it's the former FC Barcelona star who, at the grand old age of 39, would take home the Golden Boot if everything stayed the same, thanks to his four assists compared to the Real Madrid man's three.

So, unless Mbappe is banking on Messi not scoring, or assisting, against Spain, he'll be going all out for a goal, or two, or three, against England on Saturday.

The Three Lions looked tired in an abject second half against Argentina on Wednesday and so if Tuchel selects a similar starting XI, you'd back Mbappe to exploit their back line, and if the German does elect to make changes, the quality of the defence will weaken, too.

This will all be music to the ears of Mbappe, who will sense a big opportunity to claim back-to-back Golden Boots having pipped Messi to the post in 2022.

The former AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain ace has already bagged three braces at this World Cup, netting twice apiece against Senegal, Iraq and Sweden, and having failed to score in two previous appearances against England, he'll be desperate to add the Three Lions to his victim list on Saturday.

Player to Score (Sub Switch) - Marcus Rashford (ENG) @ 14/5

I like the look of Rashford in the Player to Score market at 14/5, particularly with the addition of Sub Switch.

The 28-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, scoring 14 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, is in the shop window, with the £40m exit clause in his contract having expired, and no obvious suitors.

Rashford, then, will be looking to make one final mark on this tournament, having come off the bench to score in England's first group game, a 4-2 victory over Croatia.

I'm expecting a fairly open encounter in Miami Gardens on Saturday, and the conditions should suit Rashford, who thrives on open space behind defenders.

Even if he doesn't get on the scoresheet, we could see Anthony Gordon, who struck England's only goal against Argentina in the semi-finals, come on for him at Hard Rock Stadium, and you'd imagine he'll be brimming with confidence after that strike on Wednesday.