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. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 24 mins ago

    Lol to those who said france don't care about this game. They playing b team, not interested, etc

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 18 mins ago

      Well where where they between 10pm and 10.50 pm then? I'll remind the wife that next time I'm late home... it was because I cared...

  2. Mr. O'Connell
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 23 mins ago

    Rice can barely walk. Leaving him on in a meaningless match where he was off at the first opportunity in the QF and SF. Make it make sense.

  3. Haa-lala-land
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 19 mins ago

    Saka limping

  4. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    6 hours, 19 mins ago

    Saka limping again, PL is back baby!

  5. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 18 mins ago

    Those who played maximum captain or cs shield is pretty much a waste. Should have used it earlier

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      6 hours, 17 mins ago

      I used it MD1and wasted the remaining MDs !

    2. SM001
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 11 mins ago

      Please stop talking

    3. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 hours, 20 mins ago

      Not so. I wouldn't have captained Saka this round otherwise.

  6. Haa-lala-land
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 17 mins ago

    This is actually fascinating to see if the players have learnt anything at all, seeing they find themselves now in the same predicament as they were in V Argentina

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      6 hours, 15 mins ago

      That was 1-0 lead, this 4-0!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        6 hours, 12 mins ago

        When he posted, it was one goal with ten minutes to go.

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

      They did learn their lesson.. went forward, got a penalty

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

    Ivan Toney.. no wonder he went to saudi arabia

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      6 hours, 15 mins ago

      Should’ve left him there.

  8. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 15 mins ago

    That could be costly from Bellingham. Good job Olise is having a stinker.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      6 hours, 14 mins ago

      Both should have scored!

  9. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    6 hours, 14 mins ago

    Good game to watch though.

  10. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 12 mins ago

    Kane saved for penalty shootout,?

  11. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 12 mins ago

    James on with 7 mins to go. Guaranteed red flag until the first IB IN FPL 26/27.

  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 11 mins ago

    Lol, Toney just subbed

  13. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 11 mins ago

    Penalty! That should seal the 3rd place for england!

  14. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    6 hours, 10 mins ago

    Penalty to England.

    Comeback over probably.

  15. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 8 mins ago

    Who got saka? Congrats. World cup hattrick. Price jumped from 9.5 to 10.5 in fpl

  16. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 8 mins ago

    I don’t think anyone predicted a Saka hatty 😯

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

      Didn’t even get a minute in semis, now plays a game

    2. karam94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 hours, 47 mins ago

      Brought him in for Argentina.
      Has ended up being my Max Captain today.

      What a strange game this is...

  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 5 mins ago

    Olise terrible this wc really. Lot of assists but terrible finishing

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      5 hours, 55 mins ago

      Honestly pal, you talk so much drivel. I dont take myself seriously, but you are that uninformed. Just noise. 0lise has 7 assists. France dont set up for him to score. He's a proven talent in England, Germany and internationally. Please just shoosht now. I cant believe it was this post of yours that tipped me over the edge. I nearly lasted the whole tournement reading the boxlo you post.

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        5 hours, 50 mins ago

        Did u see his 2 terrible misses? He has been scoring for fun for bayern. His finishing has been terrible all wc. He is not just an assist man. It was his 2 misses today that cost france the game. You are the one who is uninformed.. ultimately england won bcoz olise couldn't score 2 almost 100% chances

        1. BUZZBOMB ♡
          • 11 Years
          5 hours, 46 mins ago

          "He is not just an assist man".

        2. BUZZBOMB ♡
          • 11 Years
          5 hours, 44 mins ago

          "Terrible

          Even my dog's laughing. He quite easily could be in the team of the tournement 11.

          1. jacob1989
            • 4 Years
            5 hours, 32 mins ago

            I think u fail to realise scoring goals is no. 1 objective in football.. if u have around 8-10 big chances in 5 games, all in knockouts and miss all of them, that is terrible.
            He is not terrible, he is a great player but his finishing has been terrible since knockouts. He also was very poor vs spain and even paraguay. So no i don't think he has been that great this wc. And 1 of reasons probably france didn't reach final. If u r a superstar player u have to deliver

            1. BUZZBOMB ♡
              • 11 Years
              5 hours, 23 mins ago

              France scored 16 goals in this WC, admittedly 4 tonight. Olise had 7 assists. Its a ridiculous situation that I actually have to defend Olise's effort. If there is any issue - and Spain showed there is - it's not an Olise problem. Its a France problem.

              I still think you talk boxxoll btw.

              1. Tony Moon
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                5 hours, 18 mins ago

                Well said.

            2. GreennRed
              • 14 Years
              5 hours, 14 mins ago

              He's a winger who scores some goals rather than a golascoring winger like Salah. 73 club goals in 309 games. Obviously that rate went up playing for a dominant team like Bayern, compared to Palace games. For France it looks very like they're instructed to feed Kylian as much as possible. Dembele, a more natural goalscorer than Olise, hasn't a great goalscoring record for France, improved slighly at this World Cup. France have serious attacking threats but Deschamp decided to skew the balance. Didn't work out great for them. At Bayern theyhave better balance, including Kane, so Olise has more goal threat.

      2. Raoul Nogues
        5 hours, 26 mins ago

        Totally agree with you

    2. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      5 hours, 40 mins ago

      Olise gf will give him a French Miss tonight lol

  18. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    6 hours, 5 mins ago

    Djed Spence has been a revelation, inspiring

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      6 hours, 1 min ago

      Might keep Robertson out of the team!

  19. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 2 mins ago

    Last Trevor to get an England cap?

    Love a Trevor in a team. Old school.

  20. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    6 hours, 2 mins ago

    Bronze Final is technically a final right?

  21. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    6 hours ago

    Well this is actually one of best ever world cup games. Lol

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 58 mins ago

      This is how finals should be.

      This is how all matches should be.

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        5 hours, 55 mins ago

        Yes thats what i posted earlier. Too much emphasis placed on defense. Why not win 5-4 instead of 2-1 is what i posted earlier

  22. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 59 mins ago

    5-4 Dembele, but it is too late.

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 57 mins ago

      Well that was a ballsy statement, amateurish football since that goal until Bellingham got a hold of it

  23. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Epic 😀

  24. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Brilliant Bellingham

  25. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Basketball game

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 57 mins ago

      More like Baseball.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        5 hours, 55 mins ago

        Or Hockey.

  26. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Jude keeping his name in the hat for the Ballon d'Or. What a player.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      5 hours, 56 mins ago

      What? No way. Didnt win anything with england or real Madrid

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 56 mins ago

      Not even close lmao

  27. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    5 hours, 58 mins ago

    Bellingham 6-4.

  28. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    5 hours, 57 mins ago

    Wow we got a tennis score! 6-4! Took out Bellingham for doue

  29. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 hours, 56 mins ago

    Defence worthy of an NBA allstar game

  30. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    5 hours, 56 mins ago

    Incredible game. That one will be remembered for some time.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      5 hours, 54 mins ago

      Deserved an extra time imo.

    2. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      5 hours, 54 mins ago

      Such a good game!

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      5 hours, 54 mins ago

      Gonna pretend it was the final

      1. Moon Dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        5 hours, 52 mins ago

        Scoring 6 goals against the tournament favourites earns you another star on the shirt, right?