Harry Kane reportedly told his England team-mates it was a 'shame' they did not play with the same intensity against Argentina, after a remarkable 6-4 victory over France in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff. A lip reader has interpreted the England captain's message as he celebrated from the sidelines.
Record-Breaking Third-Place Match
The match, the highest-scoring third-place game in World Cup history, saw England establish a commanding four-goal lead at half-time. France and Kylian Mbappe fought back in the second half, with Mbappe scoring twice to narrow the deficit and move ahead of Lionel Messi in both the Golden Boot standings and the all-time World Cup scoring charts. However, England held on for a 6-4 victory.
Kane's Sideline Comments
Kane, who was rested for the match in favour of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, was seen embracing Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger completed his hat-trick with a penalty in the 86th minute. According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, speaking to Covers, Kane told his team-mates: 'Alright. That was some great work. It's a shame we didn't play like this the other day.'
England's Semi-Final Heartbreak
England had suffered a crushing 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, but Argentina equalised through Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute. Lionel Messi then set up Lautaro Martinez for a stoppage-time winner, sending Argentina to the final.
Saka's Hat-Trick and Selection Debate
Saka's hat-trick made him only the fourth England player to score three goals in a World Cup match. His performance also reignited debate over England manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to bench him against Argentina. Declan Rice also scored for England during the match.
