They Flew Across the World and Sat on the Bench: Kobbie Mainoo vs N’Golo Kanté

The Third Place Game Nobody Asked For – But Everyone Will Watch

England vs France. Saturday. Third place.

Neither team wanted to be here. Both wanted to be in Sunday’s final. But Spain and Argentina had other plans.

And now here we are – two of the biggest football nations on the planet, playing a game that the players will tell you means everything while secretly wishing they were somewhere else.

It will still be a good match. It always is when these two meet.

But before we get to tonight’s game, there is a conversation that has been building in both camps for the entire tournament. And it is the same conversation on both sides.

What exactly did Kobbie Mainoo and N’Golo Kanté come here for?

Let us start with Mainoo.

Twenty-one years old. Ghanaian heritage. A player who was genuinely excellent in the second half of the season at Manchester United after Michael Carrick took over as manager and finally sorted out whatever was happening at Old Trafford. He played his way back into Tuchel’s thoughts, earned his place in the 26-man squad, and flew to North America ready to play.

Tuchel left Phil Foden at home. Left Cole Palmer at home. But took Mainoo.

And then did not play him. Not once. Not for a single minute in seven games.

Not against Croatia when England were winning and needed control. Not against Panama when it was comfortable and you could afford to experiment. Not even against Ghana – the nation whose blood runs through his veins, the country that had recruited him before he chose England – where a cameo would have meant the world and cost nothing. Jordan Henderson, 36 years old, practically retired, got a run-out before Mainoo did.

Sky Sports reported that he was consistently the first out of the dressing room after every game and always the first on the team bus. Not making a scene. Just quiet. A young man in a difficult situation handling it better than most people would.

Against Argentina in the semifinal, Tuchel used four substitutes in the final minutes trying to hold on to a 1-0 lead. Ivan Toney came on for John Stones in the 90th minute – barely two minutes of football, but at least two minutes. Kobbie Mainoo did not get even that. England conceded twice and went out.

The question Tuchel will be asked for a long time is a straightforward one. If you were not going to use him at any point in the tournament, why did he come?

Saturday against France is the last chance to give him an answer that makes any sense.

France have the same story. Just with a bigger name attached.

N’Golo Kanté. World Cup winner in 2018. Missed Qatar 2022 through injury – watched the entire tournament from his sofa, including the final on penalties. Worked his way back. Went to Saudi Arabia. Scored goals, stayed fit, played every three or four days. Got recalled. Deschamps put him in the 26.

He did not play one second at this World Cup.

France won their group with nine points. They beat Morocco in the quarterfinal. They had multiple games where the result was decided before the hour mark and Deschamps had every reason to give an old champion his minutes. The manager chose not to.

When Spain beat them 2-0 in the semifinal and France’s tournament was over, Kanté’s World Cup was done. Seven games. Zero appearances. His entire contribution was sitting in the technical area in a blue training vest.

Fans were not happy. “They dragged a legend to America just to bench him” was the general sentiment, and it is hard to argue with the feeling even if you understand the football logic. When Tchouaméni, Rabiot and Koné are all playing well, the midfield positions disappear. But France had comfortable games. You find time.

The third place match on Saturday is the last chance. For Deschamps to do right by someone who gave France everything. For Kanté to leave a World Cup having actually featured in one.

The match itself will have plenty to enjoy.

Bellingham will want to finish this tournament on a high after the agony of Argentina’s late comeback. He ended with six goals – level with Kane and equal to Gary Lineker’s England record at a single World Cup in 1986. A performance on Saturday that reminds everyone what he is capable of would be a fine way to go home.

And then there is Kane.

Harry Kane has now scored 14 World Cup goals across three tournaments. Joint fifth in the all-time list with Gerd Müller. He broke Gary Lineker’s England record back in the group stage with his header against Panama, and his social media response afterwards was perfect – “Sorry Gary, I’m one ahead of you now.” Lineker, to his credit, called him the greatest English striker England has ever produced.

Mbappé will not want his last game of 2026 to be forgettable. Dembélé has been one of the best players of the entire tournament and will be looking to sign off with something special.

England vs France. Third place. Saturday night.

Nobody wanted to be here, but Uradi News always will. Give Kanté his minutes. Give Mainoo his chance. Let them leave with something.

They earned that much just by showing up every day.