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. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 28 mins ago

    Loooool

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 28 mins ago

    Henderson having a great game…

  3. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 28 mins ago

    Saka 3-0

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 27 mins ago

      Got Rashford.. wish i got saka instead of olise or doue!

  4. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 27 mins ago

    Wow england playing like.. the 3rd best team in the world!

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 21 mins ago

      What can happen when 24/7 you are not living and breathing in a pressurised goldfish bowl that continually plays Baddiel and Skinner and every dirty fart you do is scrutinized on a 100 different forms of media every minute of every day.

      Maybe even Tuchel IS a master tactition aftef all. Maybe different players breath life into a team. Maybe Kane, Gordon et al are overrated.

      Or maybe its just a worthless friendly with only 1 team looking for a smidge of pride and that France are just kekked and are on the beach.

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

        Dirty farts deserve more air time in posts…

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 27 mins ago

    France indicating their pure contempt for 3rd 4th nonsense…

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 hours, 26 mins ago

      Well they started Mbappé and Olise

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

        True, but kinda sense they don’t really care…

  6. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 27 mins ago

    Do something Rogers

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 25 mins ago

      Oh yeah, this…only England player I have…

  7. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Nobody chasing back for France

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Deschamp getting sacked in the morning…

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 24 mins ago

      This is his final match anyway.

      He is being replaced by Zidane.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        7 hours, 23 mins ago

        I mean he announced he was leaving yesterday, i think.

      2. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 hours, 21 mins ago

        Imagine a Zidane squad putting out this performance

  9. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Wow. France is getting absolutely mauled by England.

    First Rice, then Konsa and now Saka.

    Unexpected.

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 19 mins ago

      Not really. French defence not the best and attack has no balance. They're not famous for scrapping out results.

  10. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    7 hours, 25 mins ago

    Slept through the deadline.. might be screwed lol
    Picky
    O Reilly koinde cucu
    Dembele olise doue Bellingham
    Mbappe kane Messi
    Some random Argentine players on the bench

  11. Haa-lala-land
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 25 mins ago

    Shameful few minutes from Olise there

  12. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 22 mins ago

    Even if we will win this 10:0, it still feels like torture. Basically, like arriving late at the greatest party of the year just in time for minesweeping and getting a last minute HJ from a fat bird (French hen). It just doesn't really count.

    Also, everyone still watching this im a pub should be given the medal of honour.

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

      Ha, ha…what a great post

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 14 mins ago

      3rd place is no shame.. it will be England's best performance since 1966

  13. SM001
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 22 mins ago

    Get Gusto off the pitch. And then off the planet. Awful player.

  14. Admiral Benson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 20 mins ago

    Where was this attacking intent on Wednesday Thomas?

  15. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 18 mins ago

    Saka 4-0

  16. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    7 hours, 18 mins ago

    Nah but we will start Madueke ahead of Saka, lol

  17. Goro Majima
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 hours, 18 mins ago

    The referee should stop this at half time.

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 16 mins ago

      For about 15 mins then restart it?

  18. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    7 hours, 17 mins ago

    If I was French Id be raging now.
    And my wife would be hairy.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 hours, 10 mins ago

      😆

  19. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 17 mins ago

    Er, Tommy T gonna get pelters for not starting Saka on Wednesday…

  20. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 17 mins ago

    My God.. 4-0.. this is embarassing now for france.. 3rd place or not.
    Bog mistake not getting saka

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 hours, 16 mins ago

      Is that where you did your transfers?

  21. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 17 mins ago

    4-0 and 1st half is not even over.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 17 mins ago

      Saka again.

  22. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    Yup, Kane the problem confirmed.
    Jeez imagine they performed like this vs Argentina, would have been a walk in the park!

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 12 mins ago

      Ur name contradicts ur comment

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

        Oh I still love him, but I have to be honest, seem much more free flowing without him, and wingers involved more

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 11 mins ago

      Oh didn't see full name

    3. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 10 mins ago

      Toney has been anonymous though

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        7 hours, 6 mins ago

        Ivan Toney is his name. Sure we all know him.

        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          7 hours, 5 mins ago

          Uncle Toney what a legend

        2. BUZZBOMB ♡
          • 11 Years
          7 hours, 3 mins ago

          Does ur mum call you Mr Green / 32Red when ur naughty / Sunday?

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            7 hours ago

            Absolutely.

  23. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    This reminds me of Germany 7-1vs brazil.

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 15 mins ago

      That meant something big though. And Brazil were hosts.

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    At least Im not worried about any of my French players getting a Red Card

  25. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    Bronze Cup is coming home!

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 14 mins ago

      If it ends up more than 5, keep the Bayeaux Tapestry.

  26. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 hours, 14 mins ago

    Eze with that pass?

  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    7 hours, 13 mins ago

    Saka locked in.. for fpl gw1.

  28. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    7 hours, 10 mins ago

    Shame Tuchel couldn’t manage the team properly against Argentina. England possesses enough talent to be world champions.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 5 mins ago

      He panicked vs Argentina..

    2. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      7 hours ago

      Couldn’t defend a lead after 3 minutes could he !

  29. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 10 mins ago

    Anyone else seething watching this?

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 8 mins ago

      Bien sur. Moi.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 8 mins ago

      Absolutely. Didn't think I could feel any worse after the semi final, but here we are. Absolute bunch of bottlejobs.

  30. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    7 hours, 6 mins ago

    France obviously couldnt care less about this game. You should be mad at your players for being chokers who play so much better when theres nothing to play for.

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 1 min ago

      Do an impression of a Frenchman who couldnt care less. 😀

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      7 hours ago

      Everyone saying this but england also playing awesome.. france haven't been so great since round of 32 if u followed all the games. They come up against ultra defensive teams like paraguay and morocco and a poor sweden team who never won in qualifying.
      The moment they had a proper test vs spain, they were awful.