Let's not beat around the bush. For all the talk of home nations and golden generations, England have just pulled off something genuinely rare. A 6. 4...
Let's not beat around the bush. For all the talk of home nations and golden generations, England have just pulled off something genuinely rare. A 6. 4 victory over France in the bronze final, with Bukayo Saka collecting the match ball, represents their best World Cup finish since that glorious July afternoon in 1966. And it was an absolute riot.From the first whistle, this was not a game for the tactical purist. This was football stripped of its cagey, low block inhibitions. The French, smarting from a semi final collapse, came out swinging. But England, led by a Saka who seems to grow an inch every time he picks up the ball on the right flank, simply refused to blink. There was no parking the bus here. No squeaky bum time survival. Just wave after wave of transitional play.Saka's hat trick was a masterclass in clinical finishing. His first, a driven effort from the edge of the box that left the French keeper with no chance. His second, a poacher's finish from a yard out after a goalmouth scramble. His third, a curling beauty that sealed the deal. He was unplayable. But let's not ignore the kitchen sink the French threw back at us. Four goals of their own, including a stunning volley that had the English defence scrambling. It was end to end stuff, the kind that makes you forget about the scoreline and just marvel at the spectacle.You have to hand it to Gareth Southgate. To secure this result, to orchestrate a win of this magnitude in a dead rubber that felt anything but dead, shows immense tactical flexibility. After years of being criticised for being too cautious, he let the handbrake off. The result A ten goal thriller that will be replayed for decades. This side has bottled it in the past, no doubt. But today, they banished some ghosts. They played with the swagger of champions, even if the trophy itself remains elusive.This bronze medal is a statement. It is proof that this squad has the stomach for a fight. And with Saka entering his prime, the future of English football looks not just promising, but frighteningly good for the rest of Europe.
