France beat England 2-1 to advance to semi-finals

France celebrate after beating England during their quarterfinal match of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor.

Gabriel Bouys | AFP | Getty Images

Harry Kane fired a late penalty over the bar as England’s World Cup dreams ended in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by holders France.

The England captain had already switched from 12 yards to equalizer early in the game after Aurelien Tchouameni’s lightning strike put France ahead and he had a golden opportunity to equalize for the second time from Olivier Giroud’s header when Theo Hernandez recklessly into Mason Mount penetrated

His first penalty had Kane level with Wayne Rooney’s English record of 53 goals and meant he had scored more penalties in regular time at World Cups than any other player ever.

But with six minutes left and under enormous pressure, he smashed his second penalty high over the bar. Kane looked devastated. There was no turning back and by the final whistle he was heartbroken.

Referee Wilton Sampaio had initially overlooked the foul on the mount before VAR advised him to check the pitchside monitor and England were frustrated by officials’ decisions during this thrilling battle as a foul on Bukayo Saka was not called a foul beforehand The opener and a penalty call from Kane were missed in the first half.

Jude Bellingham, England’s youngest player to reach a quarter-finals at 19, Saka, 21, and Phil Foden, 22, were all exceptional players as Gareth Southgate’s side met France. Harry Maguire headed a post to make it 1-1 and Marcus Rashford lobbed a last-minute free-kick onto the roof of the net.

But in the end it was a penalty that gave England World Cup heartache again.

England’s players console each other after losing to France in their quarterfinal match of World Cup 2022 in Qatar on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor.

Paul Ellis | AFP | Getty Images

A rare miss – Kane’s penalty record

Harry Kane scored 17/21 penalties for England. He has scored 30/34 in the Premier League.

What’s next for Gareth Southgate? Will he continue his contract until the next European Championships to win the title again with this group? That is the debate for the coming days.

France play Morocco in the semifinals of the World Cup at 7pm on Wednesday, also at Al Bayt Stadium, after Morocco earlier became the first African nation to reach the Final Four with a 1-0 win over Portugal on Saturday, which left Cristiano Ronaldo in tears .

Zinny Boswell and Sam Blitz’s player ratings

England: Pickford (6), Walker (6), Stones (7), Maguire (5), Shaw (4), Rice (7), Henderson (6), Bellingham (6), Saka (8), Kane (6th ). ), Foden (6).

Subs: Mount (5), Sterling (5), Rashford (5), Grealish (n/a)

France: Lloris (7), Kounde (6), Varane (6), Upamecano (6), Hernandez (4), Griezmann (8), Tchouameni (7), Rabiot (6), Dembele (6), Giroud (7 ). ), Mbappe (6).

Substitute: Coman (6)

Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann.

How England’s World Cup dream ended

It was a dramatic end to this epic first-ever KO duel between these teams. It had started with England looking nervous after the big build-up and French star Kylian Mbappe’s anxiety was plain to see as he was able to stretch his legs in the build-up to the opening game.

After a desperate challenge from Declan Rice, England quickly retreated into their own area and Antoine Griezmann then had room to roll over for Tchouameni to blast into the bottom corner.

Aurelien Tchouameni of France scores a goal during their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinal match against England on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Stefan Matzke | Samples | Corbis Sports | Getty Images

Team News

England were unchanged from their win over Senegal, with Gareth Southgate sticking to a back four. France also started with the same XI as in the round of 16, while Kylian Mbappe scored twice in attack against Poland

England complained that a foul should have been awarded early in the play for a challenge by Dayot Upamecano against Saka and there was more frustration among officials and VAR when no penalty was awarded when Kane scored the defender for the second time in the Space rolled five minutes and crashed on the edge of the site.

Kane tested Tottenham team-mate Lloris from close range and from range as he led England’s response, but the threat from France was always there as Mbappe fired into the box from a free-kick.

England had never won a World Cup game by losing at half-time, while France won 24 of the 25 games they had led after 45 minutes – but Bellingham showed no respect for such records and pushed England forward early in the second half of the wall pass to Saka as the Arsenal man was knocked down by Tchouameni in the penalty area.

After waiting, Kane finally slammed home the penalty to set Rooney’s milestone. It was a big moment in his career and his fourth World Cup penalty – but one to be overshadowed by another penalty.

The equalizer sparked a frantic couple of minutes as Adrien Rabiot nearly put England to sleep seconds after the restart when he forced a stop from Jordan Pickford and Mbappe switched on the afterburners to charge away from Walker, but the Three Lions refocused and were with Maguire inches away grazed a post with a header from Jordan Henderson’s free kick.

Giroud had become France’s all-time leading goalscorer himself earlier in the tournament and after going wide with a header and seeing Pickford deflect a volley, he beat Maguire from a Griezmann cross to put his country back in front.

Harry Maguire of England and Olivier Giroud of France clash during a quarterfinal match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Robbie Jay Barratt | AMA| Getty Images Sports | Getty Images

The French celebrated vigorously and it was a hammer blow for England – but incredibly, they had a chance to salvage their World Cup just minutes later thanks to Hernandez’s thoughtless foul. This time, however, Kane got it all wrong. uncharacteristically.

The miss knocked the stuffing out of England’s mind and the prospect of a stands finish. They managed to create another chance – but Rashford was just wide when he tried to take a second free-kick of this World Cup. There shouldn’t be a late turn. England’s big chance had come and gone. And so had their hopes of fame in Qatar.

Kane: I take responsibility; it will hurt

England captain Harry Kane speaks to ITV: “I’m always someone who prepares to take a penalty or two in a game. I always have an idea of ​​what I want to do. I can’t fault my preparation or anything.” it was just the execution at night.

“The first pin was great, the second one I didn’t hit quite the way I wanted. I have to hit him on the chin, it’s going to hurt for sure, the whole game is going to hurt. As a captain, I’ll take that, but I couldn’t be prouder of the boys.

“It boils down to a small detail for which I take responsibility. I’m not worried about the team and how it will affect them. We have some great talent.”

Harry Kane is comforted by Jordan Pickford and Kieran Trippier after England’s 2-1 loss to France in their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Julian Finney | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images

Southgate: We believed we could win the World Cup

England manager Gareth Southgate said on ITV: “The performance did it [live up to expectation]. In the end, goals matter. I just told the players they couldn’t give more. fine edges. Things on both sides that decided the game. I’m proud of how they got through the tournament.”

About the referee: “There’s no point in going into that. I’d rather talk about our players. Congratulations to France. They know they played a damn good game. I don’t think we could have done more.”

“For me, we win and lose as a team. We leave two [goals] in and missed opportunities. Harry [Kane] was incredible for us. So reliable. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the goals he scored for us.

“These are key moments. In most of the big moments we were in the right place. It’s a game with fine margins. We were here to try and win the tournament – we believed we could. We have a team that could have done that.”

Speaking of his future in England, Southgate said: “After every tournament we’ve sat down and reviewed it and reflected on it, so we need some time to make sure everyone is making the right decisions.”

Analysis: England’s defense costs them in the end

SSN senior reporter Rob Dorsett at Al Thumama Stadium:

“England’s players fell to the pitch, many in tears as France celebrated. England fans were silent. Stunned. Heartbreak for England who fell in Qatar.

“They were the better team for most of this quarter-final. They had more possession and created more chances than the world champions. But it will take the England captain some time to process the unthinkable – that he missed a crucial moment.” from 12 meters.

“This is so bittersweet for Kane, who used to equal Wayne Rooney’s top scorer record with nerves of steel.

“England will bemoan the referee who did them no favors and missed some important decisions but ultimately, as we feared from the start of the tournament, it was the English defense that cost them. Two key mistakes, those of France were ruthlessly punished.

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

Opta Stats – Quarter-final heartbreak again for England

This is the seventh time England have been eliminated in the quarter-finals of a World Cup, more than any other side in the history of the competition. England have lost all three World Cup matches against the reigning champions and all three come in the quarter-finals of the competition (2-4 v Uruguay 1954, 1-3 v Brazil 1962 and 1-2 v France tonight).England scored at the World Cup 2022 13 goals, the highest number of goals ever scored in a single 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 round of 16 match since Dominique Rocheteau against Italy in 1986 (round of 16). Kane became the first player since Michal Bilek for Czechoslovakia against USA in 1990 to provide in a scored a goal and missed a penalty in a World Cup match.