The World Cup is down to its final two matches, and while all eyes are on Sunday’s championship between Spain and Argentina, Saturday’s third place game between France and England still carries betting interest for those paying attention.
Both teams arrive at Miami Stadium having fallen just short of the final. France was outplayed in a 2 0 loss to Spain in the semifinals, while England let a 1 0 lead slip away in a 2 1 defeat to Argentina. Neither side wanted this fixture, but with a bronze finish and individual pride on the line, the matchup still offers plenty for bettors to consider, particularly in the goal scorer markets.
Why Dembele stands out as a scorer
Ousmane Dembele has played a significant role in France’s attack throughout the tournament, even with Kylian Mbappe drawing most of the spotlight. Dembele has generated a steady volume of shots across France’s six matches, and sportsbooks have him priced as a mid tier option in the anytime goal scorer market rather than a top favorite, which some bettors see as an opportunity given his involvement in France’s chance creation all tournament long.
England’s defense adds to the case. The Three Lions have shown vulnerability at the back throughout the knockout rounds, and a France side still fielding elite attacking talent like Mbappe, Michael Olise and Desire Doué figures to generate multiple scoring chances even in a game with nothing but pride on the line.
Bellingham’s odds look out of step with his season
On England’s side, Jude Bellingham has been one of the tournament’s standout midfielders, with six goals to his name, matching Harry Kane’s tally for the team. Despite that production, sportsbooks have priced Bellingham noticeably behind Kane in the anytime goal scorer market, a gap that some bettors view as generous given how closely their underlying numbers have tracked throughout the tournament.
With Kane and Bellingham both still hunting individual milestones, including the tournament’s Golden Boot picture still very much in play behind Mbappe and Messi, England’s attack has incentive to push forward even in a game without a trophy attached.
A few things to weigh before betting
Bettors heading into Saturday’s match should treat any specific odds as a snapshot rather than a locked in number, since goal scorer pricing tends to shift right up until kickoff based on lineup news and market movement. Checking a sportsbook’s live board immediately before placing a wager is the safest way to confirm current pricing rather than relying on odds pulled earlier in the week.
Beyond individual player bets, a few broader habits tend to serve bettors well down the stretch of a tournament like this. Paying attention to underlying performance metrics, not just goal totals, tends to reveal value the market has not fully priced in. Team context matters too, since a leaky defense or a rotated lineup can shift scoring odds significantly from one match to the next.
Saturday’s third place game will not decide a champion, but for bettors looking to close out the tournament, it still offers a legitimate opportunity to find value before the final whistle blows on this World Cup.
