In a thrilling third-place playoff that had little riding on it but everything to prove, England#71 · 7 pts outlasted France#65 · 9 pts 6-4 in a goal-filled shootout on July 18th. Both sides had already been eliminated from the final after England#71 · 7 pts fell 1-2 to Argentina#66 · 9 pts and France#65 · 9 pts lost 0-2 to Spain#69 · 7 pts in the semifinals, but neither team let that dampen the intensity of the occasion.
England#71 · 7 pts's attack proved too much for a French side that had cruised through the group stage and knockout rounds with an otherwise excellent run. The result hands England#71 · 7 pts the bronze medal and fourth place to France#65 · 9 pts, a modest consolation for both after their semifinal heartbreaks.
With the third-place match now settled, all attention shifts to the World Cup final, where Argentina#66 · 9 pts and Spain#69 · 7 pts will meet for the ultimate prize.