Saka's Hat-Trick in a 10-Goal Thriller Gives England Their Best World Cup Finish in 60 Years

England came away from the 2026 World Cup with bronze medals around their necks after defeating France 6-4 in a jaw-dropping third-place match in Miami on 18 July. The ten-goal thriller set a record for the highest-scoring third-place game in World Cup history and at the centre of it all was Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka. Saka delivered a masterclass that young wingers everywhere should study. He scored twice in the first half to help England race into a 4-0 lead at half-time, then stepped up to convert a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and seal the win. Even when France fought back brilliantly - with Kylian Mbappe netting twice and Barcola pulling one back - England never panicked. Jude Bellingham added a late sixth to make it England's best World Cup result since their famous 1966 triumph. For young players watching, the lesson from Saka's performance goes beyond the hat-trick itself. In the build-up to that final penalty, with the match still uncertain, he stepped up without hesitation. That kind of mental strength is trained over years of practice, not borrowed on match day. England's journey to third place shows that a mix of experience and young talent, with players like Saka and Bellingham still in their mid-twenties, can achieve incredible things when the team culture is right. Source: Sky Sports (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13564308/world-cup-2026-france-4-6-england-bukayo-sakas-hat-trick-helps-three-lions-finish-third-in-10-goal-thriller)