Harry Kane, hero and villain of his team after missing the penalty that sent them into extra time
The French national team booked its last ticket to the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday after beating England (1-2) at the Al Bayt Stadium, after an even match that Harry Kane could have sent to extra time, had he not missed his second penalty, to meet Morocco, also victorious over Portugal, on Wednesday 14, for a place in the final.
Although Les Bleus took the lead through Aurelien Tchouaméni, the Tottenham striker equalized from the penalty spot. Olivier Giroud restored the lead after a great header and, although he had the chance to tie the game again, Kane sent his second penalty of the night high, thus ending his team’s chances of repeating the semifinals, after what they achieved in 2018.
Although he lacked the goal, Antoine Griezmann was the key piece of Didier Deschamps’ system, also becoming the top assist man in France’s history, after surpassing Thiery Henry with 28. The red-and-white player had an outstanding quarter-final as a playmaker and hinge with an attack formed by Kylian Mbappé, the historic Giroud – France’s top scorer (53) – and the improved version of Ousmane Dembélé.
Without the initial scoreline typical of a match of this scale, both teams took the field eager to demonstrate from the first minute. It was the world champions who struck first, with a sensational strike from Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni. The French midfielder hit a shot from outside the box that Pickford could do little or nothing about.
However, far from being intimidated, the ‘Three Lions’ did not lose face to the game and soon wanted to react. First Kane stood in front of Lloris in the box, but could not beat the goalkeeper after a reverse, and then tested his Tottenham teammate from the edge of the area. A back and forth game with many alternatives, which left a first half in which both had their phases and moments of control.
The same script continued in the second half, although with a more vertical England, which just after coming out of the locker room had the equalizer in the boots of Bellingham after a powerful shot from the front that Lloris ended up deflecting to a corner. Good minutes for Gareth Southgate’s team, which through Bukayo Saka found the goal.
The Arsenal striker kept trying on the right flank until one of his runs was brought down by Tchouaméni inside the box. Harry Kane made no mistake from the penalty spot and brought the score back to level the scoreboard, equaling Wayne Rooney as the top scorer in the history of the ‘Three Lions’ with 53 goals. From that point on, the English went for the game, throwing everything they had into their opponents’ half.
Maguire hit the post with a header from a free kick from the wing and shortly after Saka came close to finishing off a measured cross that was finally cleared off the line by the French defense. However, just when the English were at their best, Didier Deschamps’ men showed their grit and restored the lead through a sensational Giroud who, after a great cross from Griezmann, headed the ball into the back of the net.
Even so, Gareth Southgate’s side had another chance to equalize, but Kane, this time less accurate, sent his second penalty of the night into the clouds. The striker became the hero and villain of an England team that ends its World Cup adventure.
TECHNICAL FACTS AND FIGURES.
–RESULT: ENGLAND, 1 – FRANCE, 2 (0-1, at half-time).
–LINE-UP.
ENGLAND: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson (Mount, min.79), Bellingham; Saka (Sterlin, min.79), Kane and Foden (Rashford, min.85).
FRANCE: Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembélé (Coman, min.79), Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud.
–GOALS.
0-1, min. 17: Tchouameni.
1-1, min. 54: Kane (penalty).
1-2, min. 78: Giroud.
–REFEREE: Wilton Sampaio (BRA). Yellow cards for Griezmann (min.43), Dembélé (min.47) and Theo Hernández (min.82) for France, and Maguire (min.89) for England.
–STADIUM: Al Bayt.
