France vs. England Picks and Prediction for Saturday, July 18, 2026
Use Code SSWC France and England meet in the FIFA World Cup third-place match on Saturday at 3:00 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. France lost 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals after opening the tournament with six straight victories. England also fell in the final four, dropping a 2-1 decision to Argentina after winning four consecutive matches following a scoreless draw against Ghana, which proceeded a win over Croatia. Both teams will try to finish the tournament with a victory after falling one step short of the World Cup final. Build your bankroll with our free World Cup picks.
France Looking to Finish the Tournament with a Victory
France has scored 2.29 goals per match while generating 1.91 expected goals through seven World Cup matches. Kylian Mbappé continues to lead Les Bleus with eight goals and three assists, while Ousmane Dembélé has added five goals and two assists. Michael Olise has created chances throughout the tournament with five assists, and Bradley Barcola has contributed two goals. France averaged four goals during victories over Norway and Sweden before recording three consecutive knockout wins without allowing a goal.
France has remained one of the tournament's strongest defensive clubs despite the semifinal loss. Les Bleus have conceded only 0.57 goals per match while allowing 0.82 expected goals. France has recorded four clean sheets and owns a 71% save rate through seven matches. The semifinal against Spain marked the first time France failed to score during the tournament, but the overall defensive numbers remain among the best in the competition.
Injuries: William Saliba (Back), Brice Samba (Training Injury).
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
England Looking to Bounce Back After Semifinal Defeat
England has averaged 2.00 goals and 1.61 expected goals per match during the World Cup. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals in seven appearances, giving England one of the tournament's most productive attacking duos. Anthony Gordon has added one goal and three assists, while Bukayo Saka has also recorded three assists. England scored at least two goals in five of its seven matches and showed the ability to recover from deficits during the knockout rounds.
England has allowed 1.14 goals per match while conceding 0.94 expected goals. The Three Lions have posted two clean sheets and own a 65% save rate. England conceded in each of its final four matches after opening the tournament with back-to-back clean sheets. The defense will face another difficult challenge against Mbappé and a France attack that averaged more than two goals per match before the semifinal.
Injuries: Jordan Henderson (Wrist).
France vs. England Match Pick
- France (+100)
France has been the more complete team throughout the tournament despite the semifinal defeat. Les Bleus have scored more goals, allowed fewer goals, and own the stronger expected goals differential. Mbappé remains the biggest attacking threat on the pitch, while Olise and Dembélé have consistently created scoring opportunities. England has enough quality to keep the match close with Kane and Bellingham leading the attack, but France has been more consistent over seven matches. Another disciplined defensive performance combined with the finishing ability of Mbappé gives France the edge in the third-place match.
France vs. England Over/Under Pick
- Under 3.5 Goals (-120)
Both clubs have defended well for most of the tournament, making a high-scoring match difficult to expect. France has conceded only four goals in seven matches and recorded four clean sheets, while England has allowed more than one goal only once. France was held scoreless by Spain in the semifinal, and England managed one goal against Argentina despite several attacking chances. With third place on the line and two experienced squads looking to finish the tournament on a positive note, this matchup will cash under.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
