Five Minute Freewrite: Celebration of Losers

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Any team that gets to the semifinals of the world cup tournament is a potential champion. You just need to win that semifinal match to advance to the finals. So it is always an interesting match watching the four qualified teams play their pairings to advance to the finals where they stand the chance to be crowned champions.

Nobody wants to play the third place match which is a match played by those who fell by the wayside, those who could not overcome their opponents to make it to the finals.

Most teams playing that third place game usually play it for pride. It is sometimes devoid of entertainment. But this year's third place match at the just concluded FIFA World Cup turned out to be the opposite.

England who was unwittingly eliminated by Argentina faced France who was humbled by Spain. The French team was a heavy favourite for the crown while the English team wants to better their world cup records before they bow out.

Spectators were entertained by the players from both ends as the game produced many goals (ten in all - 6 for England and 4 for France). England won the third place match and celebrated about it while the French captain Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in that match to better his goal record as the tournament's top scorer.

So in essence both sides celebrated even though they were losers to the ultimate crown.

Prompt of the Day

This is my entry for the today @daily.prompt: Celebration of Losers