Stuttgart served up a classic, didn't it England's clinical first half dismantled France's low block with a ruthlessness we have rarely seen from the...
Stuttgart served up a classic, didn't it England's clinical first half dismantled France's low block with a ruthlessness we have rarely seen from the Three Lions on such a stage. The build up was crisp, the transitional play incisive, and the finishing simply clinical. Gareth Southgate's men looked every bit the heavyweight contenders they have threatened to become, leaving the French chasing shadows for forty five minutes. It was high octane, high risk, and it worked a treat.But this French side, even in mourning for their departing manager, has a stubborn spine. Didier Deschamps' last match in charge was never going to be a procession. Les Bleus clawed their way back into the contest with a grit that speaks to their deep rooted character. They peppered the England box, forced errors, and made the second half a proper squeaky bum time affair. They got close, tantalisingly close, but England held their nerve and held the result. For Deschamps, a silver medal and a wave goodbye; for England, a bronze medal and a statement of intent.Individual brilliance lit up the occasion. Kylian Mbappé, despite the loss, etched his name into the history books by becoming the highest scorer in World Cup history. A staggering achievement for a player who still feels he has unfinished business on this stage. Then there was Michael Olise, the elegant creator, who matched Lionel Messi's all time assist record with a moment of pure vision. His weighted pass was the kind of football that makes the hair on your neck stand up. They may have lost the battle, but the French individual milestones shone through the defeat.And yet, the real subplot remains unwritten. While England and France fought for bronze, a titanic clash looms on the horizon. Spain are hungry for another star on their jersey, a statement of their phoenix like rise from the ashes of recent failures. They play a possession game that suffocates and a press that terrifies. Across the divide, Argentina seek back to back World Cup victories, a feat that would cement a dynasty and put Lionel Scaloni in the pantheon of immortals. Didier Deschamps may be gone, but the world game is richer for the drama he leaves behind. Get ready for the final act.
