England's third-place match against France could be moved in one final twist of World Cup chaos, as severe thunderstorms are forecast to strike Miami around the scheduled kick-off time. The two nations will face off in a fixture neither wanted, after losing their semi-finals against Argentina and Spain respectively.
Weather Threatens Kick-Off
The match is set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with kick-off scheduled for 10pm UK time on Saturday night. According to the BBC forecast, 'thundery showers and a moderate breeze' are anticipated between three and five hours before kick-off. These timings could change as the fixture approaches, offering some uncertainty.
Under FIFA rules, play must be suspended or delayed if there is lightning within eight miles of the stadium. The game can only resume when 30 minutes have passed since the last lightning strike. Several matches at this World Cup have already faced similar delays due to lightning and stormy weather, including England's round of 16 meeting with Mexico, which was pushed back by an hour because of severe weather near the Azteca Stadium.
Stadium Limitations
The forecast would be of no concern in a fully-enclosed stadium like those in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston or Vancouver. However, because the Miami venue lacks a fully retractable roof, the match between England and France will be at the mercy of the elements. This could lead to a delay, suspension, or even a move if conditions worsen.
Stakes for England
England can secure their best World Cup finish since 1966 with victory over Les Bleus, having lost both of their previous third-place matches against Italy and Belgium in 1990 and 2018 respectively. However, under-pressure boss Thomas Tuchel might struggle to get his players fired up for the occasion, given the heartbreaking nature of their semi-final collapse against 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.' He added: '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.'
Tuchel also reflected on the achievement: '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.'
