This match has been played at every FIFA World Cup for the past 72 years.
In the third-place match, known by FIFA as the Bronze Final, it will be England and France’s turn on Saturday.
France head coach Didier Deschamps summed up the mood in his camp ahead of the Miami game by saying: “The best thing for France and England would have been if this match had not happened.”
England coach Thomas Tuchel took a similar view after Wednesday night’s defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, saying: “None of our players and none of the French players want to play in this match.”
But speaking to the media on Friday, Tuchel was more positive about his chance to win bronze. “If we win the game tomorrow, we will have our best World Cup result in 60 years. This is the future,” he said.
The playoffs really provide an opportunity for players who have struggled for minutes or haven’t yet played in the tournament to get their chance on the field. And then there are the fans who paid for tickets and travel expecting the teams to put on a show.
England could use this game as an opportunity to introduce James Trafford to World Cup football or give Cobby Mine his first World Cup minutes in an England shirt.
Former France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate played 14 minutes for France in the third group game against a much-changed Norwegian side, although he is not keen on the prospect of increasing those minutes in Miami.
“None of us want to play this game for third place,” he said. “But we have no choice.”