Marcus Rashford fires England past France in World Cup playoff thriller

Marcus Rashford scored twice as England beat France 2-1 in a World Cup quarter-final on 10 December 2022, setting up a third-place playoff clash with Kylian Mbappe’s side on Saturday night.

What happened in Qatar?

England’s World Cup run ended in heartbreak when they lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals on 14 December 2022. Rashford’s brace against France came just four days earlier, but the Three Lions couldn’t repeat the feat against Lionel Messi’s side. France, meanwhile, were dumped out by Spain 2-0 in their semi-final, leaving Mbappe and Rashford to battle for the bronze medal.

Rashford posted on Instagram after the France win: *“The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions. Each and every one of our team gave everything we had. We got close, but not close enough. I’ll make a promise that we will come again!”*

Mbappe’s sportsmanship and Rashford’s reply

Mbappe left a love-heart emoji under Rashford’s post, a rare moment of mutual respect between rivals. Rashford fired back: *“Good luck with the rest of the tournament, brother! Go smash it, king.”*

The pair last met in La Liga last season when Rashford spent a year on loan at Barcelona. They split two fixtures-Real Madrid won 2-1 in October 2025, while Barça lifted the Supercopa with a 3-2 victory. Rashford had the final laugh, though, as Barça also claimed the La Liga title by eight points.

Why this rematch matters for Rashford

A third-place finish would cap England’s best World Cup performance since 1990. Rashford, 25 at the time, led the line with energy and intent, dragging England deep into the knockout stages. His goals against France proved he can deliver on the biggest stage-even if the semi-final exit stung.

For Mbappe, a bronze medal would soften the blow of losing two finals in a row. The French striker reached the 2022 final but fell to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw. His rivalry with Rashford now shifts to a lesser stage, but the stakes remain high for both men.

What comes next in the World Cup playoff?

England and France meet at 20:00 local time on Saturday 17 December 2022 in the third-place playoff. A win would give Rashford his first senior medal at a major tournament. For Mbappe, it’s a chance to salvage pride after back-to-back final heartbreaks.

The match also marks the first time these two have faced off in a competitive knockout tie since that dramatic 2018 quarter-final. Then, France edged England 2-1. This time, the script could flip-especially with Rashford in form and Mbappe carrying the weight of two finals lost.

England’s new home, away and goalkeeper kits for the tournament dropped in June 2022. Nike offered free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL, a small comfort for fans still smarting from the semi-final exit.