Last Updated on 1 hour ago by TodayWhy Editorial
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on the bench, not the pitch, for England’s World Cup third-place match against France. Between them, the pair scored or created most of England’s goals this summer. Manager Thomas Tuchel left both out of his starting XI anyway.
Here’s why, and what it means for a match nobody wanted to play.
England’s confirmed starting XI vs France
Tuchel’s line-up for the Bronze Final (4-1-2-3): Dean Henderson in goal; Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi and Djed Spence across the back four; Declan Rice holding in midfield; Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze ahead of him; Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford up front.
Kane, Bellingham and regular goalkeeper Jordan Pickford are all named among the substitutes, alongside John Stones, Reece James and Ollie Watkins.
Why did Harry Kane not play?
Kane isn’t injured. He’s been rested for a match that carries no trophy and, by Tuchel’s own admission days earlier, little appeal for either side. The England boss had built his entire attacking plan around Kane and Bellingham through the knockout rounds, crediting the pair with responsibility for 12 of England’s 14 World Cup goals this summer.
With the semifinal loss to Argentina ending any chance of silverware, there’s no competitive reason left to risk Kane’s fitness. He returns to Bayern Munich for pre-season inside a matter of weeks, and an unnecessary knock in a dead-rubber match would be the worst possible way to end his tournament.
Why is Jude Bellingham not playing?
The same logic applies to Bellingham, who has Real Madrid’s pre-season on the horizon. Bellingham was one of the breakout performers of the tournament, but a third-place play-off is the lowest-stakes fixture left on England’s calendar. Resting him protects a player his club will need fit within weeks, without costing England anything that still matters competitively.
It also lets Tuchel hand a rare, meaningful cap to squad players like Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze before the tournament ends.
Why is Jordan Pickford not in goal?
Pickford, England’s first-choice goalkeeper all tournament, drops to the bench in favor of Dean Henderson. It’s the same rotation principle as Kane and Bellingham: with nothing left to play for except pride and a podium finish, Tuchel is using the match to give minutes to players who haven’t had a real look-in.
Why are England and France even playing each other?
Neither side is in the World Cup final. Both lost their semifinals this week — France 2-0 to Spain, England 2-1 to Argentina after leading 1-0 late on. FIFA’s third-place play-off, rebranded the “Bronze Final” for this tournament, exists purely to decide who finishes third and who finishes fourth. It carries no bearing on the final between Spain and Argentina.
Tuchel called it “the match no one wants to play in” in the aftermath of England’s semifinal exit, before publicly softening his tone once kickoff approached: “It’s a chance to have the best result since 60 years… It’s a big game against one of the best teams in the world.”
Tuchel is picking extremes, not caution
The team sheet itself is a reaction to the criticism Tuchel took after the Argentina game, where he switched to a back five and brought on six defenders while protecting a lead — a decision English media branded overly cautious. This time, he’s gone the other way: an attack-minded XI missing his two most influential attackers, built around Toney as an out-and-out striker over the more popular Watkins.
Asked directly about the criticism, Tuchel didn’t back down: “If the blame game needs to be played, OK, we can do that. But I have the right to not engage.” Whatever happens in Miami, it’s his selection, not a compromise forced by the critics.
What’s next
Win, lose or draw, England’s tournament ends here — third or fourth place is the final outcome, with Kane, Bellingham and Pickford expected to feature at some point off the bench if the scoreline allows. It’s a quieter finish than the ten-men drama of England’s Round of 16 win over Mexico at Estadio Azteca, but a much lower-stakes one. Both nations then turn to the UEFA Nations League and the buildup to Euro 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harry Kane injured?
No. He’s been left out of the starting XI as a rest decision, not because of injury.
Is Jude Bellingham injured?
No. Like Kane, he’s been rested for the third-place play-off after a heavy tournament workload.
What is the World Cup Bronze Final?
It’s the third-place play-off, contested by the two losing semifinalists — France and England this year — to decide final placings behind the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
Who is starting in goal for England instead of Pickford?
Dean Henderson starts in goal, with Jordan Pickford and James Trafford both among the substitutes.