Mbappe still motivated by golden boot chase
Kylian Mbappe is available for France's meeting with England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place play-off, with Didier Deschamps viewing the forward's chase for the golden boot as the forward's motivation.
France and England will face off for the bronze medal in Miami on Sunday (AEST), after Les Bleus were comfortably beaten by Spain and the Three Lions saw a 1-0 lead overturned late on by Argentina in their respective semi-finals.
It will be the fourth time that France has competed in the FIFA World Cup's third-place play-off, with only Germany appearing in that match more often.
While both France and England will have been disappointed to miss out on Monday's (AEST) showpiece match, Mbappe may be particularly keen to retain his place in Deschamps's line-up.
He is tied with Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring chart, with eight goals, but the Argentina captain is currently on course to land the award as he has four assists, compared to Mbappe's three.
England duo Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham also retains outside hopes of landing the prize, having scored six goals and registered one assist apiece.
In addition, Mbappe's overall tally of 20 FIFA World Cup goals puts him just one shy of Messi on the all-time list.
The Frenchman has not held that record at any point in this tournament, thanks to the form of his rival, so Sunday's (AEST) game will be his last chance to claim that honour until the 2030 tournament.
Asked if Mbappe would be involved, Deschamps said: "He's available.
"There are always reasons for motivation; we analyse what they can do on the pitch. Kylian doesn't need that leverage, but the fact he has this individual objective is also legitimate. He may have other things in his head.
"It's not a nothing match. It won't change our lives, but it's better to finish third than fourth.
"How many teams had already gone home before the semi-finals? It's 44 of them. We're still here. We always have duties when we are with the France team.
"We will do everything to make it go well. We have a responsibility towards the millions of French people. When you come here, and I've been here for 25 years, you have a duty.
"I'm going to rotate, yes. Some players can't play, and also there are other factors that I understand – they will guide my choices."
The game will also mark the end of Deschamps's 14-year stint in charge of France, with the 2018 FIFA World Cup-winning boss set to leave the role after 187 games.
His 121 wins are the most of any head coach in France's history, and he is already the outright record holder for most FIFA World Cup games by a manager – this will be his 27th.
Deschamps is also one of just three men to win the FIFA World Cup as both a player and a manager, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, having worn the captain's armband when France triumphed on home soil in 1998.
Asked what it will mean to sit in the France dugout for the final time, he said: "No one is going to cry here, but I know that I will miss the France team.
"I have had the privilege for 14 years to experience magical but also difficult moments. But life goes on. I'm positive by nature, I know that what comes next will be good too.
"It's the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. Coaching has taken up 25 years of my life, and it leaves a mark."
