France were many people's pick to win the tournament outright. Didier Deschamps — in his final match as France manager after announcing he would step down at the end of the competition — guided Les Bleus through a blistering group stage: a 3-1 win over Senegal, a dominant 3-0 over Iraq, a 4-1 thrashing of Norway. They were ruthless in the knockouts too, brushing aside Sweden 3-0 before overcoming Paraguay and Morocco to reach the last four. Then came Spain and a 2-0 defeat that was, by most accounts, thoroughly deserved. It is the cruellest possible ending for the most successful French manager in history — finishing third rather than lifting the trophy in his final game in charge.

England's story is the more heartbreaking. Thomas Tuchel's side were five minutes of normal time away from a first World Cup final since 1966. Anthony Gordon put them ahead against Argentina in Atlanta and the Wembley flags were already being ordered. Then came Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez in the 92nd, both assisted by Lionel Messi, and the dream evaporated in the most Argentine way imaginable. England's journey had been remarkable — a 4-2 win over Croatia, a scare against DR Congo before Kane's double, a thrilling 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico, and a comeback against Norway in extra time in the quarter-finals.

This is the match's clearest storyline away from the result itself: the Golden Boot race. Mbappé and Messi are level on eight goals and four assists at the top — with Messi currently ahead on the tiebreaker. Mbappé needs to score here, in what is effectively a dead rubber for France, to stay in contention. The question is whether Deschamps, in his last game in charge, has the emotional motivation to push hard enough to give his star forward the opportunities he needs. England's Kane and Bellingham are both on six goals.

France may rest some regulars, with Zaïre-Emery, Cherki, Théo Hernandez and Kanté all candidates to come in. England's Saka, Rashford and Rice are all carrying minor knocks from the semi-final.