France beats England 2-1 to advance to semifinals

Harry Kane blazed a late penalty over the bar as England’s World Cup desires ended with a 2-1 defeat within the quarter-finals to defending champions France.

The England captain had already transformed from 12 yards earlier within the recreation to stage after Aurelien Tchouameni’s thunderbolt had put France forward and he was given a golden alternative to equalize for a second time after Olivier Giroud’s header when Theo Hernandez recklessly barged into Mason Mount.

His first penalty had taken Kane stage with Wayne Rooney’s England scoring document of 53 objectives and meant he’d scored extra penalties in regular time at World Cups than any participant ever.

However with six minutes to play, and the strain large, he smashed his second spot kick excessive over the bar. Kane seemed devastated. There was no method again and on the last whistle, he was inconsolable.

Referee Wilton Sampaio had initially ignored the foul on Mount earlier than VAR suggested him to verify the pitchside monitor and England have been annoyed all through this enthralling contest by selections from the officers, with a problem on Bukayo Saka not given as a foul within the build-up to the opener and a penalty shout from Kane ignored within the first half.

Jude Bellingham, at 19-years-old and England’s youngest participant to start out a quarter-final, Saka, 21, and Phil Foden, 22, have been all distinctive as Gareth Southgate’s facet dueled with France. Harry Maguire clipped a put up with a header at 1-1 and Marcus Rashford lifted a last-gasp free-kick onto the roof of the online.

However finally it was a penalty that precipitated England World Cup heartbreak once more.

What subsequent for Gareth Southgate? Will he proceed along with his contract working by means of to the subsequent European Championships for another shot at glory with this group? That’s the debate for the times to return.

As for France, they go on to play Morocco within the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday at 7pm, once more on the Al Bayt stadium after Morocco grew to become the primary African nation to achieve the ultimate 4 with a 1-0 win over Portugal earlier on Saturday, which left Cristiano Ronaldo in tears.

How England’s World Cup dream ended

It was a dramatic ending to this epic first-ever knockout conflict between these sides. It had begun with England wanting nervy after the large build-up and the worry of France star Kylian Mbappe was plain to see when he was capable of stretch his legs within the lead-up to the opener.

After a determined problem from Declan Rice, England retreated quickly to their very own space and there was then house for Antoine Griezmann to roll throughout for Tchouameni to crash a superb strike into the underside nook.

England complained there ought to have been a foul given for a problem from Dayot Upamecano on Saka at the beginning of the transfer and there was extra frustration with the officers and VAR when no penalty was awarded when Kane rolled the defender for a second time within the house of 5 minutes and tumbled on the sting of the world.

Kane examined Tottenham teammate Lloris from shut vary and from distance as he led England’s response however the specter of France was all the time there, with Mbappe firing over after a free-kick was labored into the field.

England had by no means received a World Cup match they have been dropping at half-time, whereas France had received 24 of the 25 they’d led after 45 minutes — however Bellingham confirmed no respect for such information, driving England ahead early within the second interval earlier than offering the wall go for Saka when the Arsenal man was floored within the field by Tchouameni.

Kane, after being made to attend, ultimately slammed dwelling the penalty to match Rooney’s milestone. It was an enormous second in his profession and his fourth aim from the spot in World Cups — however one which might be overshadowed by one other penalty to return.

The equalizer sparked a frantic jiffy, with Adrien Rabiot nearly catching England asleep seconds after the restart when he pressured a cease from Jordan Pickford and Mbappe turned on the afterburners to cost away from Walker, however the Three Lions refocused and have been inches away when Maguire grazed a put up with a header from Jordan Henderson’s free-kick.

Giroud had change into France’s document goalscorer himself earlier on this event and after heading huge and seeing Pickford push away a volley, he beat Maguire to Griezmann’s cross to go his nation again in entrance.

There have been emphatic celebrations from the French and it was a hammer blow to England — however extremely they got an opportunity to avoid wasting their World Cup simply a few minutes later due to Hernandez’s inconsiderate foul. This time, although, Kane obtained all of it fallacious. Uncharacteristically so.

The miss knocked the stuffing out of England and the prospect of mounting a grandstand end. They have been capable of muster another probability — however Rashford was simply off course as he seemed to fireplace in a second free-kick of this World Cup. There was to be no late twist. England’s massive probability had come and gone. And so had their hopes of glory in Qatar.

Kane: I take accountability; it should damage

England captain Harry Kane talking on ITV: “I am all the time somebody who prepares for getting one or two penalties in a recreation, I all the time have an concept for what I need to do. I am unable to fault my preparation or something like that, it was simply the execution on the evening.

“The primary pen was nice, the second I did not fairly hit it how I needed to. I’ve to take it on the chin, it should damage for certain, the entire recreation will damage. Because the captain, I will take that, however I could not be prouder of the boys.

“It comes right down to a small element I will take accountability for. I am not fearful in regards to the staff and the way it will impression them. We have now some nice expertise.”

Southgate: We believed we may win the World Cup

England supervisor Gareth Southgate talking on ITV: “The efficiency did [live up to expectation]. In the long run, objectives are decisive. I’ve simply mentioned to the gamers, they could not give any extra. Wonderful margins. Issues at each ends which have determined the sport. I am pleased with the best way they have been by means of the event.”

On the referee: “Pointless me going into that. I might quite discuss our gamers. Congratulations to France. They know they have been in a hell of a recreation. I do not assume we may have achieved any extra.

“For me, we win and lose as a staff. We let two [goals] in and missed probabilities. Harry [Kane] has been unbelievable for us. So dependable. We would not be right here if not for the objectives he is scored for us.

“It is key moments. In many of the massive moments we have been in the best place. It is a recreation of superb margins. We have been right here to attempt to win the event — we had perception we may. We have a staff that might have achieved that.”

On his England future, Southgate mentioned: “After each event we have sat down and reviewed and mirrored. So we’d like a little bit of time to ensure everybody makes the best selections.”

Evaluation: England’s protection prices them ultimately

SSN senior reporter Rob Dorsett on the Al Thumama Stadium:

“England’s gamers dropped to the turf, many in tears, as France have fun. The English followers have been silent. Shocked. Heartbreak for England, who crashed out in Qatar.

“For a lot of this quarter-final, they have been the higher facet. They’d extra possession, created extra probabilities than the world champions. However the England captain will want a while to course of the unthinkable – that he missed, at a vital time, from 12 yards.

“That is so bittersweet for Kane, who equaled Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring document earlier, with nerves of metal.

“England will bemoan the referee, who did them no favors and missed some key selections however finally, as we feared from the very begin of the event, it was England’s protection that value them. Two key lapses, that have been ruthlessly punished by France.

“England will head dwelling tomorrow. Christmas is canceled.”

Opta stats — Quarter-final heartbreak once more for England

• That is the seventh time England have been eradicated from the quarter-final phases of the World Cup, greater than every other facet within the historical past of the competitors.
• England have misplaced all three of their World Cup matches in opposition to reigning champions, with all three coming within the quarter-final stage of the competitors (2-4 vs Uruguay in 1954, 1-3 vs Brazil in 1962 and 1-2 vs France tonight).
• England scored 13 objectives on the 2022 World Cup, the best variety of objectives they’ve ever scored in a single version of a significant event (World Cup and European Championship).
• Antoine Griezmann grew to become the primary French participant to supply two assists in a knockout spherical recreation of the World Cup since Dominique Rocheteau in opposition to Italy in 1986 (spherical of 16).
• Kane grew to become the primary participant to each rating and miss a penalty in a World Cup match since Michal Bilek for Czechoslovakia in opposition to USA in 1990.
• Hugo Lloris made his 143rd look for France, turning into essentially the most capped participant within the senior French males’s facet.