England are in the midst of a run of three matches against the top three sides in world football. That is unprecedented. Far from a dead rubber, Saturday's third‑place play‑off against France has huge ramifications for how this World Cup will be remembered and almost certainly for Thomas Tuchel's future.

The FA remains fully behind the England manager, and Tuchel said after the semi‑final loss to Argentina that he is "100 per cent" committed up to Euro 2028. Yet criticism has surged, with players bemused by his substitutions and the squad’s DNA comments.

France were the No.1 ranked team, boasting stars like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. A loss could see England humiliated, while a win would mark their best finish since 1966 and a jump to third in the FIFA rankings.

The outcome will also decide Tuchel’s fate; a win would give them a final‑scalp, the bronze‑medal match could be make‑or‑break for him before Spain at Wembley. The stakes are high.