Jules Kounde questions the value of a World Cup third‑place fixture

Defender Jules Kounde opened his post‑match interview by highlighting Kylian Mbappe’s two‑goal burst, the decisive moment that briefly revived France’s hopes before England secured a 4‑6 victory in the FIFA World Cup third‑place play‑off on the tournament’s final day, leaving the French side to contemplate a hollow finish.

Kounde questioned the legitimacy of the third‑place play‑off, calling it a match that “shouldn’t even have been played”. He said that after weeks of preparing for a single objective – the final – it is incredibly difficult for professionals to contest such a game, and the mental strain further diminishes its value.

The 4‑6 loss also reshaped the Golden Boot race. Mbappe’s two goals moved him ahead of Lionel Messi, making him the tournament’s all‑time leading scorer.

Mbappe’s brace gave France a fighting chance in the play‑off and secured the top spot in the Golden Boot contest. His performance also cemented his place as the highest‑scoring player in World Cup history.

France entered the knockout stage aiming for another final, but that ambition collapsed when Spain beat them 0‑2 in the semi‑finals, ending their chance of a World Cup final. The semi‑final loss set up the third‑place play‑off against England.

Kounde noted that the collective failure made any personal accolade feel hollow, stressing that the squad puts the team before individual glory. He added that feeling happy after a second consecutive defeat was hard, emphasizing the difficulty of celebrating after a loss.

Reflecting on the end of Didier Deschamps’ tenure, Kounde thanked the coach for the years shared and described the experience as very positive despite the competitions won and missed.