A ten-goal third-place thriller: England edge France 6-4

The third-place play-off is meant to be a gentle goodbye, two tired teams seeing out the tournament. Nobody told these two. Henry’s England and Nichola’s France served up ten goals in a gloriously daft afternoon, and it was England who came out on top, 6-4. A bronze medal, and about as much fun as a consolation match is ever allowed to be.

For Henry it’s a lovely way to sign off. His England were an hour from the final in the semi and will always wonder about it, but they leave with a third-place finish and a ten-goal send-off - and, in the sweepstake, a +20 that firms his place at 103 and third.

For Nichola there was more riding on it than the scoreline suggests. A France win would have lifted her past Pete into fourth; the 4-6 defeat means it doesn’t, and she settles for fifth. Her France were the tournament’s favourite as recently as ten days ago and bow out in fourth place in the world - a fine run that, in this six-team game, lands mid-table.

That result quietly locks almost everything in. With England, France and every other beaten side now finished, the table is settled from third place down: Henry 3rd, Pete 4th, Nichola 5th, Emily 6th, Sophie 7th, Tega 8th - all final, whatever happens next.

Which leaves exactly one thing outstanding, and it’s the big one. Richard 161, Ella 127, and their two teams meet in the World Cup final - Spain against Argentina - with first and second place, and the whole sweepstake, resting on it. Everything the tournament has built comes down to one match.

The table: Richard 161, Ella 127, Henry 103, Pete 76, Nichola 72, Emily 55, Sophie 53, Tega 49. Next: the final.

Odds watch

Two players, one game. Ella is favourite at ~1.83 (54.6%) with Spain rated the likelier winner, Richard ~2.20 (45.4%) right behind on Argentina - and every other price is now settled at zero, their finishing places already fixed. It’s the cleanest possible finish: the owner who has led the table for almost the entire tournament against the owner whose team the market fancies, head to head, with nothing else left to play for. If Argentina win, Richard takes the crown he’s led towards all along; if Spain win, Ella completes the overtake. Ninety minutes, maybe more, and the whole thing is done.