Dugout Discussion
18 July 2026 288 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The third-place play-off of the World Cup may be pretty meaningless in ‘real’ football terms but for Fantasy managers, it has the potential to deliver some much-needed points.

It’s not just the fact that the ‘bronze medal match’ traditionally brings goals; it’s also the knowledge that Scouting Bonus picks suddenly abound in this fixture – something that won’t be true in the final tomorrow.

Kick-off between France and England is at 22:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

The expected rotation has materialised as both managers make seven changes for what is a glorified friendly.

Marc Guehi ($5.1m), Djed Spence ($4.3m), Morgan Rogers ($7.2m) and Declan Rice ($7.0m) are the only four survivors for England.

That means Harry Kane ($10.5m) and Jude Bellingham ($8.3m), amongst others, are demoted to substitute duty.

The only France players keeping their places are Mike Maignan ($5.0m), Adrian Rabiot ($6.4m), Michael Olise ($9.5m) and Golden Boot-chasing Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m).

LINE-UPS

France XI: Maignan; T. Hernández, Lacroix, Konate, Gusto; Rabiot, Zaïre-Emery; Doue, Cherki, Olise, Mbappe.

Subs: Akliouche, Barcola, Dembele, Digne, L. Hernandez, Kante, Kone, Kounde, Mateta, Risser, Saliba, Samba, Tchouameni, Thuram, Upamecano.

England XI: D. Henderson; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Eze; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Toney.

Subs: Pickford, O’Reilly, Stones, Anderson, Kane, Bellingham, Chalobah, J. Henderson, Burn, Gordon, Watkins, Madueke, Trafford, James.


288 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 21 mins ago

    Who’s gonna watch the most pointless football match ever?

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 hours, 20 mins ago

      Or is England lose big, Tommy T could be oot the door?

    2. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 18 mins ago

      It'll start 2 am here
      It's a painful decision to watch lol

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        8 hours, 16 mins ago

        Gonna give the first half a go, if rubbish binning it, no worries…

        1. Mozumbus
          • 4 Years
          8 hours, 13 mins ago

          Expecting France to be attacking, they're bruised
          England already achieved more than they expected, their best moment was beating Mexico, I'd respect them for that on serious note and reaching to the semi final

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            7 hours, 56 mins ago

            England were expected to make the semis at least

    3. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 59 mins ago

      Usa vs turkey and argentina vs jordan were even more pointless

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 18 mins ago

    Who’s this Rory Jennings fella, geez he chats some guff, like a Temu Adrian Durham, who’s a bell in his own right….

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 28 mins ago

      He's a moron

  3. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 hours, 17 mins ago

    Parades to Yamal for a hit?

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 13 mins ago

      I'd do that
      You have so much lying itb

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 16 mins ago

    So Saka starts, so isn’t injured then? How come he didn’t start when it mattered? And Rice starts who’s supposedly gassed from playing 732 games this season, makes no sense…

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      8 hours, 7 mins ago

      Argentina game was on Wednesday.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        8 hours, 6 mins ago

        Saving Saka for the Bronze final…

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          8 hours, 1 min ago

          Clearly your knowledge of elite athlete's fitness and fatigue levels means you are better qualified to make this judgement than those the FA hired......

  5. Christina.
    • 16 Years
    8 hours, 14 mins ago

    I'm done.
    GL everyone.

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 12 mins ago

      GL

  6. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    8 hours, 14 mins ago

    Already have maignan. Is simon worth a -3?

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      8 hours, 12 mins ago

      Not at all

  7. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 10 mins ago

    Tommy T looks like he’s enjoying the occasion, big smile, what a lad…

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 9 mins ago

    Mbappe hatty incoming…

  9. Bobbyg1
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 9 mins ago

    Have Fernandez...worth it to sell McAllister to Baena ft? Nothing else pressing

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 hours, 7 mins ago

      Just keep Mac Allister, reckon he’s due a goal…

      1. Bobbyg1
        • 14 Years
        8 hours, 6 mins ago

        Cheers mate

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          8 hours, 5 mins ago

          Baena will probably brace now, soz….

          1. Bobbyg1
            • 14 Years
            8 hours, 4 mins ago

            Haha, thats the way it goes sometimes!

  10. Pornchef
    • 2 Years
    8 hours, 5 mins ago

    Calling it now England win coming up tonight

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 hours, 4 mins ago

      Nah Deschamp last game after 14 years in charge, France winning it for him…

      1. Pornchef
        • 2 Years
        7 hours, 13 mins ago

        Say what

    2. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      8 hours, 4 mins ago

      Mbappe to feast and win the golden boot

    3. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 46 mins ago

      Agreed…

  11. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    8 hours, 4 mins ago

    Quite harsh on Watkins, behind Toney in the pecking order.. didn't see that coming!

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      8 hours, 3 mins ago

      100! Its mind boggling to me

  12. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 3 mins ago

    England already in a low block on the six yard line….looking to hold out until FT…

  13. Haalander
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    8 hours, 3 mins ago

    Saka fit for a third place play off and not fit for a World Cup semi is a joke

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 34 mins ago

      He looks fully fit. Cant believe he hasnt been 1st choice

  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    8 hours, 2 mins ago

    Too late mate

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 hours, 1 min ago

      Ha, just a bit…and he knew it when it went in…

  15. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours, 2 mins ago

    Rice goal lol…

    1. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 hours, 59 mins ago

      1-0 England. Dan Burn on.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        7 hours, 57 mins ago

        Ha, ha…

      2. lilmessipran
        • 13 Years
        7 hours, 56 mins ago

        Haha

  16. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    8 hours, 2 mins ago

    Rice cooking!

  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    8 hours ago

    There goes my double france cs!

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 56 mins ago

      Triple here lol

  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 hours ago

    That slow mo shot of Mbappe was brilliant…so disappointed

  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 57 mins ago

    Why didn't england play like this last 30 mins vs Argentina?

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 54 mins ago

      No idea, it’s exactly the same situation and personnel after all

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        7 hours, 49 mins ago

        Yup instead of subbing in burn and 3 more defenders, could have brought in saka and Rashford to try for 2-0..

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          7 hours, 48 mins ago

          No difference between a semi-final or third place friendly, of course

          1. jacob1989
            • 4 Years
            7 hours, 44 mins ago

            Well see now what intent can make a difference.. this is not a weak france team at all. This is still a strong france team and yet england are given license to attack so they are

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              7 hours, 41 mins ago

              It’s France’s B-team and they don’t care about the result at all. They’re playing Konate ffs

              1. jacob1989
                • 4 Years
                7 hours, 37 mins ago

                Is england playing A team?.Their b team looks on paper stronger than most teams. Konate is real Madrid bound. Just accept england lost semis for 2 reasons. Argentina too good and england ultra defensive tactics and subs.

                1. x.jim.x
                  • 11 Years
                  7 hours, 34 mins ago

                  You just answered your own question - England couldn’t play like this because they made ultra defensive subs in a match that mattered

  20. Mozumbus
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 55 mins ago

    It'll going to be a good match to watch, worth sacrificing the sleep

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 51 mins ago

      Pressure is off both teams I guess.

      Nothing to win. Nothing to lose.

  21. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 53 mins ago

    Saka goal…offside

  22. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 53 mins ago

    Sloppy from Saka.

  23. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 52 mins ago

    Why cant football always be like this? Both teams attacking, why not win 5-4 instead of 2-1?

  24. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 46 mins ago

    Konsa 2-0

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 45 mins ago

      France care less than England lol…

  25. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 46 mins ago

    Wow konsa. Rice assist. Who needs kane and Bellingham?

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 45 mins ago

      Glad I kept Konsa

  26. Goro Majima
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 hours, 46 mins ago

    Put too much faith in France for the second game running.

  27. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 45 mins ago

    Kane thinking he could’ve had a hatty tonight.

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 hours, 44 mins ago

      At this rate there's still time.

  28. Justthis
    • 7 Years
    7 hours, 43 mins ago

    Will Messi start tomorrow?

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 41 mins ago

      No. Rested for mls season which will start soon. He has single handedly brought them to final and now its upto others

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 40 mins ago

      Can’t wait for this gimmick to retire tomorrow

    3. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      7 hours, 40 mins ago

      Can't see it personally, big MLS games up ahead.

  29. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 43 mins ago

    Does 3rd place game have extra time? I think not

  30. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 34 mins ago

    Kane was clearly the problem

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 33 mins ago

      He is A problem, not THE problem

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        7 hours, 25 mins ago

        What do you think is the problem

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          7 hours, 23 mins ago

          Our cowardly manager masquerading as a cold-blooded technician, who can’t pick a squad properly.

          1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
            • 9 Years
            7 hours, 14 mins ago

            Working today though tbf!

            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              7 hours, 13 mins ago

              It’s a glorified friendly