France beats England 2-1 to advance to semifinals

Harry Kane burned a late penalty over the bar as England’s World Cup dream ended in a 2–1 loss to defending champions France in the quarter-finals.

The England captain turned to level from 12 yards early in the game, and after Aurelian Chuameni’s lightning strike put France ahead, Theo Hernández recklessly rammed into Mason Mount for the second time after Olivier Giroud’s header. We were given the perfect opportunity to equalize.

His first penalty meant that Kane matched Wayne Rooney’s England scoring record of 53 goals and scored more penalties than any player ever scored in normal time at the World Cup.

But with six minutes left, the pressure was on and he slammed a second spot kick over the bar. Kane looked devastated. There was no way back and at the final whistle he was inconsolable.

Referee Wilton Sampaio had overlooked Mount’s foul, but VAR advised him to check the pitchside monitors. An opener and a penalty shout from Kane were missed in the first half.

England’s youngest quarter-finalists Jude Bellingham, 19, Saka, 21, and Phil Foden, 22, were all exceptional when Gareth Southgate’s side faced France. Harry Maguire headed the post to make it 1-1 and Marcus Rashford put the final free-kick into the net.

But it was the penalty that finally caused heartbreak again at the World Cup in England.

What’s next for Gareth Southgate? Will he continue his contract until the next European Championships to claim glory in this group once more?

As for France, they will face Morocco in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday at 7pm. Morocco advanced to the last four for the first time in Africa with her 1-0 victory over Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo shed tears on Saturday.

How England’s World Cup dream ended

This was the dramatic conclusion to this first-ever epic knockout showdown. French star Kylian Mbappe’s fears were palpable when he was able to stretch his legs for the season opener.

After a desperate challenge from Declan Rice, England rapidly retreated into their own area, with Antoine Griezmann rolling and Chuameni slamming a superb strike into the bottom corner.

England complained that a foul should have been awarded for a challenge from Dayot Upamecano at the Saca at the start of the move, and the referee said when Kane rolled a defender in space for the second time a penalty was not awarded. and VAR was more dissatisfied.5 minutes away and rolled to the edge of the area.

Kane tested Tottenham team-mate Lloris from close and far range and led England’s response, but the French threat was always there, with Mbappe firing in after a free-kick went into the box. rice field.

England had never won a World Cup game losing at half-time and France had won 24 of the 25 games they led after 45 minutes. He provided a wall pass for Saka when the Arsenal man was floored in the box by Chuameni.

Kane finally slammed the penalty in time for Rooney’s milestone after being kept waiting. It was a big moment in his career and a goal from his fourth spot at the World Cup.

The equalizer set off a desperate few minutes, with Adrian Rabiot forcing a stop on Jordan Pickford seconds after the restart, Mbappe turning on the afterburners and charging from Walker, but the Three Lions refocused and Maguire refocused. A few inches away, Jordan Henderson’s header from a free-kick grazed the post.

Giroud became France’s record goalscorer early in this tournament, seeing Pickford push off a volley before defeating Maguire to Griezmann’s cross to put France back in front.

The French put on a rousing celebration, a blow for England, but incredibly, just minutes later they were given a chance to save the World Cup thanks to a thoughtless foul on Hernández. But this time Kane got everything wrong. It seems rare.

A miss knocked out a filling and a possible grandstand finish from England. They managed to get another chance, but Rashford were just off target as they tried to fire on their second free-kick of this World Cup. England’s big chances have come and gone. And there was also hope for glory in Qatar.

Kane: I’m responsible.it will hurt

England captain Harry Kane told ITV: “I am always someone who prepares for a penalty or two in a match. I always have an idea of ​​what I want to do. Can’t fault it, it was a night run.

“The first pen was great, but the second one didn’t hit like I wanted it to. You have to hit it on the chin. It will hurt for sure. The whole match will hurt. As captain, I’ll take it. Please accept me, but I couldn’t be prouder of a boy.

“It’s all the details that I’m going to be responsible for. I’m not worried about the team or the effect it has on them. We have great talent.”

Southgate: We believed we could win the World Cup

England manager Gareth Southgate told ITV: “Performance [live up to expectation]Ultimately, the goal is decisive. I told my players that I couldn’t give them any more. fine margins. Things on both ends that decide the game. I’m proud of them for making it through this competition. ”

About referees: “There’s no point in saying that. I want to talk about the players. Congratulations to France. They know they played a terrible game. I don’t think they could have done better.”

“For me, we win or lose as a team. [goals] I missed my chance.harry [Kane] Incredible for us. Very reliable. We wouldn’t be here without the goals he set for us.

“It’s an important moment. Most of the important moments, we were in the right place. It’s a game of fine margins. We were here to win the tournament – we believed we could.” did it.”

Speaking about his future in England, Southgate said: “After every tournament, we sat down and reviewed and pondered, so we need some time to make sure everyone makes the right decisions.”

Analysis: England’s defense will ultimately cost them

SSN Senior Reporter Rob Dorsett said at Al Toumama Stadium:

“As France celebrated, England players collapsed on the grass, many in tears. The British fans were silent. Stunned. Heartbreak for England after they crashed in Qatar.

“For most of this quarter-final they were the better team. They had more possessions than the world champions and created more chances. But the England captain handles the unthinkable. – He missed the decisive moment. From 12 yards.

“It’s bittersweet for Kane, whose nerves of steel matched Wayne Rooney’s scoring record.

“England will mourn the referees. The referee did them no favors and missed some key decisions, but in the end, as we feared from the beginning of the tournament, it cost them. It was England’s defence, and two important blunders were punished mercilessly by France.

“England is going home tomorrow. Christmas is cancelled.”

Opta stats — England heartbroken again in the quarter-finals

• This is the seventh time England have been eliminated from the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, more than any other team in the history of the competition.
• England have lost all three games in the World Cup to the reigning champions, all three of which have been in the quarter-finals of the competition (2-4 against Uruguay in 1954, 1-3 against Brazil in 1962, tonight’s 1-2 against France). ).
• England have scored 13 goals in the 2022 World Cup. This is the highest number of goals he has ever scored in one edition of a major tournament (World Cup and European Championship).
• Antoine Griezmann became the first French player to provide two assists in a World Cup knockout round game since Dominique Rocheteau vs. Italy in 1986 (Round 16).
• Kane became the first player to miss both a goal and a penalty in a World Cup match since Czechoslovakia’s Michal Birek against the United States in 1990.
• Hugo Lloris made his 143rd appearance for France, making him the most capped player for the French senior men’s team.