Former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia recently praised the sportsmanship displayed by England and France players following their 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff. Held on July 18 at Miami Stadium, the match saw England defeat France 6-4 in a high-scoring thriller.
Thomas Tuchel’s England squad established a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime. Bukayo Saka secured a hat-trick, while Kylian Mbappe added two goals to his personal tournament tally. Following the final whistle, members from both sides joined in a collective prayer, an act that drew positive recognition from Valencia.
Using his X account, Valencia thanked both nations for their efforts throughout the competition. He also extended his appreciation to the coaching staffs and encouraged the athletes to embrace a restful break before returning to their club seasons. This victory provided England with their first podium finish since their 1966 World Cup title, while France ended the tournament empty-handed after reaching the final in the two preceding editions.
