Olivier Giroud scored the winner and Harry Kane missed a late penalty as holders France beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Aurelien Tchouameni had swept France right into a first-half lead just for Kane to equalise from the spot 9 minutes into the second half. England have been the higher aspect for lengthy stretches of the sport at Al Bayt Stadium however, virtually from nowhere, France went again in entrance when Giroud headed house with 11 minutes left.

Kane then blazed his second penalty of the sport over the bar as England’s wait to win a primary main worldwide trophy because the 1966 World Cup goes on. France although stay on the right track to turn into the primary aspect since Brazil 60 years in the past to efficiently defend the World Cup.

With Brazil having been eradicated on Friday and England handled right here within the desert north of Doha, France are actually absolutely the favourites to retain their crown as they put together to face Morocco within the semi-finals.

This, remarkably, was the primary assembly of those two nice rivals in a significant event knockout sport, with Croatia’s victory in additional time stopping England from becoming a member of France within the last 4 years in the past. England had discovered their stride after a sluggish begin within the last-16 win over Senegal and it was no shock to see Southgate identify an unchanged aspect, with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden both aspect of Kane in assault.

That meant he resisted any temptation to revert to a again 5 in an try to counter the risk posed by Kylian Mbappe, the event’s high scorer with 5 targets. There isn’t any scarcity of purpose threats within the French aspect however few might have predicted that the opener would come from Tchouameni, the midfielder who’s simply 22 and had scored solely as soon as for his nation earlier than this sport.

There was a contact of controversy to the purpose, because it got here from a France break which began with what seemed like a foul by Dayot Upamecano on Saka. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio waved play on, and Mbappe minimize inside from the left earlier than Ousmane Dembele and Griezmann mixed to arrange Tchouameni to hit an excellent shot from 25 metres that curled away from Jordan Pickford and into the nook.

France had seemed the extra harmful staff earlier than that, however England grew into the competition after falling behind.

Pressure tells

Kane spun away from Upamecano within the field however was denied as his Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris got here out to dive at his ft. Another second of controversy adopted as England thought they need to have had a penalty when Kane was clearly fouled in a tangle of legs with Upamecano.

However, a VAR verify dominated out a spot-kick with the officers judging that any infringement passed off outdoors the field. Not to be discouraged, Kane compelled Lloris to tip a shot behind simply earlier than the half-hour mark and the France goalkeeper — profitable a nationwide file 143rd cap — was referred to as into motion once more simply after the restart to tip over a Jude Bellingham volley.

The stress ultimately advised when Saka was introduced down by Tchouameni within the space seven minutes into the second half and this time a spot-kick was given. Kane stepped as much as beat Lloris and rating his 53rd purpose to equal Wayne Rooney‘s file England tally.

The holders could not have been rattled, however England had the higher hand, and Harry Maguire headed agonisingly extensive from a free-kick. France had created nothing within the second half, however then Giroud compelled a wonderful save from Pickford following a Dembele knockdown, and moments later they struck.

Griezmann whipped in an amazing cross from the left for Giroud to move in with the help of a spark off Maguire. That was not sport over, as Theo Hernandez was penalised for a shove on substitute Mason Mount when the referee gave a spot-kick following a VAR assessment.

But this time Kane — along with his nation’s outright purpose file in sight — blazed over, and England’s World Cup dream was over too.

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