England's third-place play-off against France at the World Cup on Saturday night could be delayed or suspended if thunderstorms hit the Miami Stadium area, according to forecasts. The match, scheduled for 10pm UK time, is one neither team wanted, following semi-final defeats for both sides.
Weather Threatens Kick-Off
The BBC weather forecast predicts thundery showers and a moderate breeze between three and five hours before kick-off. FIFA regulations stipulate that play must be halted or postponed if lightning occurs within eight miles of the venue, with a restart possible only after 30 minutes since the last strike.
Several fixtures at this World Cup have already experienced similar delays due to lightning and storms. England's round of 16 match against Mexico was pushed back by an hour because of severe weather near the Azteca Stadium.
Stadium Limitations
The Miami Stadium lacks a fully retractable roof, unlike enclosed venues in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, or Vancouver, leaving the match exposed to the elements. This increases the likelihood of disruption if the storms materialize.
Stakes for England
A win over France would give England their best World Cup result since 1966, having lost previous third-place play-offs to Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018. However, manager Thomas Tuchel faces a challenge motivating his squad after a gut-wrenching semi-final loss to Argentina.
Speaking after the defeat, Tuchel said: "None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match. They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that's how it is. We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism."
He added: "We'll have to wait four years before participating in another World Cup. Reaching the semi-finals is already an achievement in itself, of course. Many great footballing nations are eliminated before the semi-finals. It's an achievement, but nobody wants to hear that at the moment, myself included, because we're very demanding of ourselves."
