England seal third at World Cup with 6-4 win over France

England finished third at the men's World Cup after a 6-4 win over France in Saturday's third-place play-off, their best finish at the tournament since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1966.

The result followed a semi-final defeat by Argentina in which England conceded control in the second half. Thomas Tuchel's side had started the competition ranked fourth in the world and ended it having reached the last four for only the third time since 1966.

What happened

The bronze final produced ten goals and swung repeatedly before England secured third place. It came days after the semi-final exit to Argentina, a match in which England's approach in its closing stages has become the central point of discussion around the squad.

Reporting from within the camp describes a group that believed this tournament was its opportunity, and players are said to have held private misgivings about how Tuchel set the team up late in the Argentina game, with substitutions and tactical changes viewed as overly defensive by some.

• England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off
• Third place is England's best men's World Cup finish since 1966
• England lost their semi-final to Argentina after a second-half collapse
• Tuchel's late tactical changes against Argentina are questioned within the squad
• England began the tournament ranked fourth in the world

How the campaign is being judged

The assessment has split along familiar lines. One reading holds that a first semi-final in years and a podium finish represent clear progress for a side that has repeatedly stalled at major tournaments. The other holds that Tuchel was appointed specifically to clear those hurdles, and that a passive closing strategy against Argentina meant England contributed to their own exit.

Assistant manager Anthony Barry, speaking at half-time during the third-place match, described the mood plainly: "They're playing a game with broken hearts. I see 11 lads on the field with broken hearts." Tuchel has repeatedly referenced the "brotherhood" within the group, a bond the staff say has carried the squad through the days since the semi-final.

England leave the tournament with a medal and a live debate over style, squad selection and the manager's decision-making under pressure. Attention now turns to the review of the campaign and to the makeup of the forward line, with the question of how England build beyond their long-serving captain already being raised.