France’s World Cup is over bar one final assignment after a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain in Dallas, a first loss of the summer. William Saliba was forced off on the half-hour mark with a back injury that reportedly leaves him facing four to five months out, and Didier Deschamps now has one game left in charge: Saturday’s third-place play-off against England at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (10pm UK time).Spain led from the 22nd minute, when Lucas Digne shaped to clear a cross from the left, only for Lamine Yamal to nip in and take the ball past him before being sent tumbling. A VAR check on whether the winger had used his arm came to nothing, and Mikel Oyarzabal rolled in the penalty, the first time France had trailed at these finals. Pedro Porro added the second just before the hour, exchanging passes with Dani Olmo and surging through a huge gap on France’s left, and Les Bleus did not manage a shot on target until they were already two goals down, with Kylian Mbappé’s first attempt of the night not arriving until midway through the second half.It was a jarring way for the tournament’s most watchable team to bow out. A front four that had scored freely all summer, with Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé contributing 13 goals between them, was kept apart and starved of service by Spain’s midfield, and France have now lost four matches in a row to their neighbours, all in semi-finals or finals, counting the Paris Olympic final. Deschamps steps down after Saturday’s game following 14 years in charge, with Zinedine Zidane expected to succeed him.Check out our latest World Cup match betting tips and predictions ahead of today’s gamesFrance World Cup 2026 squad and predicted lineup: key takeawaysFrance’s attacking depth defined their run to the last four, with Deschamps rotating Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki through the wide roles, but Spain finally found a way to keep the front four quiet. Expect that depth to be used one last time in Miami, with squad players pushing for a farewell start.Mbappé stays on eight tournament goals and 20 across his World Cup career after a frustrating night in Dallas. He remains level with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race, though the Argentine now edges the assists tiebreaker, and Saturday is his final chance to add to his tally, 24 hours before Messi plays the final.Michael Olise still leads the tournament’s assist charts with five, one clear of the chasing pack, but he endured his most difficult afternoon of the summer against Spain and is still waiting for a first goal at these finals. Miami is his last opportunity.Didier Deschamps’ last danceDeschamps confirmed before the tournament that he would step down after the World Cup, and Saturday’s meeting with England in Miami will be the final match of a 14-year reign.The 2018 winner and 2022 runner-up will not get the fairytale ending, but victory over England would secure a podium finish at a third straight World Cup and send him off with a win.Zidane is in line to replace him. The France legend has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.Deschamps has previously been renowned for his “safety first” tactics, but this France side have been the polar opposite of the team that ground out results at Euro 2024, even if Spain found a way to make them look ordinary when it mattered most.The star player: Kylian MbappéKylian Mbappé is one of the best footballers on the planet, and arrived at the World Cup under pressure to deliver after two trophyless seasons with Real Madrid.Mbappé’s goalscoring numbers have been exactly as you’d expect, however, and he has a proven track record of performing at a very high level for the French national team.For all the talent available to Deschamps, Mbappé remains the main man in the France World Cup lineup, and he underlined that all summer, even if Spain kept him quieter than anyone since Norway in the group stage. One more start in Miami gives him a final chance to add to his tally and settle the Golden Boot race on his own terms.France 2026 World Cup confirmed 26-man squadPlayer NamePositionClubMike MaignanGKAC MilanRobin RisserGKLensBrice SambaGKRennesLucas DigneDEFAston VillaMalo GustoDEFChelseaLucas HernándezDEFParis Saint-GermainThéo HernándezDEFAl-HilalIbrahima KonatéDEFLiverpoolJules KoundéDEFBarcelonaMaxence LacroixDEFCrystal PalaceWilliam SalibaDEFArsenalDayot UpamecanoDEFBayern MunichN’Golo KantéMIDFenerbahçeManu KonéMIDAS RomaAdrien RabiotMIDAC MilanAurélien TchouaméniMIDReal MadridWarren Zaïre-EmeryMIDParis Saint-GermainMaghnes AklioucheFWDAS MonacoBradley BarcolaFWDParis Saint-GermainRayan CherkiFWDManchester CityOusmane DembéléFWDParis Saint-GermainDésiré DouéFWDParis Saint-GermainJean-Philippe MatetaFWDCrystal PalaceKylian MbappéFWDReal MadridMichael OliseFWDBayern MunichMarcus ThuramFWDInter MilanHow France lined up against SpainAurélien Tchouaméni returned from his thigh injury in place of Manu Koné, while Barcola got the nod over Doué on the left, but neither call sparked France into life. Saliba’s first-half withdrawal saw Maxence Lacroix come on for only his second appearance of the tournament, and Adrien Rabiot, booked inside ten minutes, made way for Koné at the break.PositionPlayerGoalkeeperMike Maignan Right-BackJules KoundéCentre-BackWilliam SalibaCentre-BackDayot UpamecanoLeft-BackLucas DigneCentral Defensive MidfielderAurélien TchouaméniCentral Defensive MidfielderAdrien RabiotRight-WingerOusmane DembéléCentral Attacking MidfielderMichael OliseLeft-WingerBradley BarcolaStrikerKylian MbappéSaliba’s tournament is over, and the news gets worse: the centre-back is reportedly facing four to five months on the sidelines with the back problem, which would also rule him out of the start of Arsenal’s title defence. Lacroix or Ibrahima Konaté should deputise alongside Dayot Upamecano, and with only third place at stake, Deschamps is also likely to freshen things up, with Marcus Thuram, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Cherki among those still waiting for meaningful minutes this summer.How to bet on the France World Cup squadThere are specific betting markets relevant to the France starting XI for Saturday’s third-place play-off, and the anytime goalscorer market remains the most popular.Mbappé is the standout pick once again, with the added motivation of the Golden Boot: he is level with Messi on eight goals but behind on the assists tiebreaker, and he plays his final game 24 hours before the Argentine appears in Sunday’s showpiece. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both on six goals for England, will be chasing the same prize at the other end.Third-place play-offs have a habit of producing goals, with rotated sides and little defensive tension, so goalscorer markets across the board look livelier than usual.Doué and Cherki are the value options if Deschamps freshens up his attack, while Tchouaméni remains the most relevant France player in the cards market if he starts.Is there a chance of France winning the World Cup?Not any more. Spain ended that hope in Dallas, and the latest World Cup odds are now all about Sunday’s final between La Roja and Argentina.France’s consolation is Saturday’s play-off against England in Miami, where victory would secure a podium finish at a third consecutive World Cup and give Deschamps a winning farewell after 14 years in charge.FAQ about the 2026 France World Cup squad1. How many times have France won the World Cup?France have won the World Cup twice in the competition’s 96-year history. Their maiden triumph came in 1998, when les Bleus lifted the trophy as the host nation.They added a second star to their jerseys in 2018, beating Croatia in the final in Russia. France have also been runners-up twice, in 2006 and 2022.2. Which players are injured and missing from the starting 11?Hugo Ekitike remains absent after suffering an achilles injury that ruled him out before the tournament. Saliba’s World Cup is over after he was forced off in the first half against Spain with the back problem he has been managing since the end of the club season, and reports suggest he is now facing four to five months out, with surgery a possibility. No other fresh injury concerns emerged from the defeat.3. Are there any changes to France’s usual starting 11?The France starting 11 has undergone changes since Euro 2024. Antoine Griezmann has retired from international football and Randal Kolo Muani’s form has dipped.Former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise and Désiré Doué have burst onto the international scene since that tournament two years ago, making France one of the more intriguing sides to follow in our World Cup betting predictions – their starting XI contains a healthy mix of youth and experienceStay up to date with all the latest World Cup tips & predictions, World Cup Match Previews and all the best World Cup Betting Offers and Free Bets in our dedicated betting hubAbout the authorGreg LeaGreg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootballCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.