France will face England in the World Cup third-place play-off this Saturday, and although both will have obviously preferred to be battling in the final, this match gives them the chance to end on a high note.
It will be interesting to see whether both managers give some players in the squad who have barely featured any minutes or whether they will go full strength.
Our betting experts have revealed some top tips for France vs England, and we can also reveal sign up offers giving you over £300 in free bets.
France vs England Betting Offers & Free Bets
The World Cup ends this weekend, with the final on Sunday. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to get some free bets.
There are some great sign up offers available, which will give you the chance to receive over £300 in free bets, and the good news is that you don’t have to use all your free bets on one specific game with most of these offers.
With two cracking games this weekend to finish the 2026 World Cup, there’s some exciting market selections to bet on, so be sure to check out these World Cup betting offers.
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France vs England Betting Tips
France and England meet in the 2026 World Cup’s third-place playoff in Miami this Saturday, with both sides looking to salvage some pride after semi-final defeats. The match kicks off at 10:00pm UK time, and you can find our expert’s full analysis and data-driven selections below.
- France to Finish Third @ 1/2
- Match – Over 30.5 Tackles @ 9/10
- Kylian Mbappe to Score From Outside the Box @ 11/1
Les Bleus Tipped to Secure Bronze
Despite failing to score for the first time in the World Cup in their 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain, France have demonstrated more quality overall than England. Didier Deschamps’ side scored 16 goals to England’s 14, but the key difference lies in their defensive solidity, having conceded just four goals compared to England’s eight.
The historical head-to-head record in major competitions also favours the French. They have not lost to England in such a fixture since the 1982 World Cup, a run that includes a crucial 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals of the last tournament in Qatar.
Motivation is also a significant factor. Kylian Mbappe is tied with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, with both players on eight goals. This individual prize provides a clear incentive for France’s attack to be sharp and to create chances for their talisman.
While both managers are expected to rotate their squads, France’s superior depth and attacking quality should prove decisive. They have the tools to exploit an English defence that has looked vulnerable throughout the knockout stages.
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Midfield Battle to Produce Tackles
Although third-place playoff matches can sometimes lack competitive fire, the sheer volume of talented dribblers on both sides suggests a high tackle count is likely. The data from the World Cup supports this, with an average of 31.76 tackles per game recorded across all matches.
France’s matches have been particularly active, seeing an average of 32.43 tackles. Their direct attacking style, which ranks seventh for dribbles per game, forces their opponents into an average of 18.14 tackles per match. The only other time they were priced above 8/11 to win was against Spain, a match that saw 35 tackles.
England’s statistics tell a similar story. This bet landed comfortably in their semi-final against Argentina, which produced 35 tackles. In fact, three of their four knockout stage games have featured 31 or more tackles, with the phase averaging 31.75 tackles per game for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Given the playing styles and the statistical trends for both teams, the line of 30.5 appears to be set a little low. There is strong evidence to suggest that the match will be a physical encounter with plenty of challenges in midfield.
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Mbappe Primed for Long-Range Strike
Kylian Mbappe has a significant personal incentive in this match as he vies for the Golden Boot. The French forward leads all players at the World Cup for Expected Goals (xG) with 5.48 and has also registered the most shots on target with 19, underlining his consistent threat.
His shooting habits make this long-odds bet particularly appealing. Mbappe is averaging 4.7 shots per game in North America, with a notable 1.7 of those attempts coming from outside the penalty area. He has already scored twice from distance in the competition and netted six long-range goals for his club during the 2025/26 season.
England have shown a clear vulnerability to shots from distance. They conceded long-range goals against both Croatia and Norway earlier in the tournament, and Enzo Fernández’s crucial equaliser for Argentina in the semi-final further exposed this defensive weakness. The data suggests England can be susceptible to strikes from deep, making the 11/1 odds on Mbappe to exploit this an interesting value proposition.
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