Expert Picks

France looked like the best team in this competition before running into a Spanish side that has conceded just one goal through seven matches. Meanwhile, England is coming off a devastating last-minute loss to Argentina, and manager Thomas Tuchel has been constantly criticized for his managerial tactics late in that match. With Kylian Mbappe in contention to win his second straight Golden Ball, I expect France to win this battle for 3rd place.

The third place match always comes down to motivation, and it’s hard to see England bouncing back after such a gut wrenching loss to Argentina. Their midfield is also banged up. Declan Rice may not play, Elliot Anderson has logged a ton of minutes and could be rested, Bukayo Saka is nursing an injury, and Harry Kane has played a heavy workload all year, so don’t be surprised if he’s limited or sits. On the other side, you know Kylian Mbappé will be chasing the Golden Boot, so he’ll be motivated to play. If this turns into a battle of depth, France has the edge, especially with Mbappé leading the way.