07/18/26 04:03:00
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07/18 16:01 CDT Mbapp starts for France in third-place match vs. England,
while Kane and Bellingham sit
Mbapp starts for France in third-place match vs. England, while Kane and
Bellingham sit
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- France's Kylian Mbapp was in the starting lineup
for his squad's third-place World Cup match against England on Saturday as he
continues his chase for a second Golden Boot.
Mbapp, who won the Golden Boot at the World Cup four years ago in Qatar, is in
a tight race with Argentina's Lionel Messi for the award, given to the
tournament's top scorer. Mbapp and Messi have eight goals each.
Messi holds the first tiebreaker with a 4-3 lead in assists. He and defending
champion Argentina will face Spain in Sunday's final.
Meanwhile, England stars Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were not in the
starting lineup. They have six goals apiece.
Both teams in Saturday's third-place match have said they'd rather be playing
on Sunday. France lost to Spain in the semifinals and squandered its chance at
reaching a third straight World Cup final. England blew a 1-0 lead against
Argentina.
Still, Mbapp and his teammates arrived at Hard Rock Stadium in hopes of
delivering one last win for Didier Deschamps, who was set to coach his final
game for France.
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