Saka hat-trick in England's 6-4 win over France reignites selection debate

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place play-off in Miami, securing the country's best tournament finish since 1966 and reviving debate about his absence from the semi-final.

England led 4-0 at half-time. Saka struck twice before the break, first reacting quickest after Marcus Rashford's saved effort and then finishing Eberechi Eze's through ball. After France reduced the deficit and threatened a comeback, he converted a penalty to complete his treble and restore a two-goal cushion.

What happened in the semi-final

On Wednesday in Atlanta, England lost 2-1 to holders Argentina. Thomas Tuchel started Morgan Rogers on the right, and the Aston Villa forward set up Anthony Gordon's opening goal early in the second half. Argentina took control after England switched to a more defensive shape, with Enzo Fernandez equalising in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez heading in Lionel Messi's cross in stoppage time.

Saka, fit enough to feature and seen warming up, was not brought on. Tuchel said afterwards that the call was not a sign of lost faith, calling Saka a key player for him and saying he wanted to take things slowly with the winger given his history. He added that he felt Rogers' physicality offered something specific against Argentina, and that the game became too chaotic to make the change he had prepared.

Key points

• England beat France 6-4 in Miami to finish third, their best World Cup result since winning the trophy in 1966.
• Saka's hat-trick made him the fourth England player to score one at a World Cup, after Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker and Harry Kane.
• He is the second to do so in the knockout stages, following Hurst's treble in the 1966 final.
• Argentina reached the final by beating England 2-1 with two late goals in Atlanta.
• Tuchel described leaving Saka out of the semi-final as a tough decision and denied it signalled any loss of confidence in him.

The bronze-medal finish gives England a measure of consolation after a semi-final that slipped away in the closing minutes, and Saka's performance ensures the question of how best to use him will follow Tuchel into the next international window.