Bukayo Saka of Arsenal couldn’t hide his joy after England secured their best World Cup result in six decades. The Three Lions claimed bronze with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff, marking their first-ever triumph in this stage of the tournament.
England’s journey to this milestone was far from straightforward. Despite dominating the first half with a 4-0 lead, the French side clawed back with four goals in the second period. Yet, England held their nerve to score twice more, sealing a historic victory that surpassed even their own expectations.
Saka’s standout performance included a crucial penalty, his third of the match, which proved decisive. The Arsenal winger revealed how the opportunity arose after Jude Bellingham—typically England’s designated penalty taker—insisted he should take it. ‘He kept the ball and never hesitated. It was always going to be me,’ Saka said with a smile.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster encounter, he described it as ‘a completely mad game.’ While both teams left disappointed at missing the final, England’s players focused on delivering a performance worthy of their nation’s proud footballing history. ‘We knew this was our chance to give the country its best World Cup result in 60 years,’ Saka explained. ‘And we did exactly that.’
a personal milestone amid team success
Despite his pivotal role, Saka admitted he would have preferred more playing time earlier in the tournament. After starting five of the first seven matches on the bench—including being unused in the semi-final loss to Argentina—Saka seized his moment when it mattered most. ‘Of course, I would have loved to play more,’ he said, ‘but now isn’t the time to dwell on it. My focus was on performing when called upon, and that’s exactly what I did.’
With his 25th birthday approaching in September, Saka won’t have long to reflect. The UEFA Nations League returns in two months, and England’s campaign kicks off with a tough test against Spain. A rematch that, just days ago, could have been a World Cup final.
