World Cup 2022: England 1-2 France – Harry Kane misses penalty as Three Lions out

England’s World Cup marketing campaign resulted in disappointment as they went out regardless of a high quality efficiency within the quarter-ultimate towards France at Al Bayt Stadium.

France took a seventeenth-minute lead when Aurelien Tchouameni’s 25-yard drive beat Jordan Pickford low to his proper.

England have been the higher group for lengthy spells and created possibilities, deservedly pulling degree 9 minutes after the break when Kane beat Tottenham group-mate Hugo Lloris in convincing vogue together with his penalty after Tchouameni fouled Bukayo Saka.

France regained the lead 12 minutes from time when Olivier Giroud headed in Antoine Griezmann’s excellent cross however England had a swift likelihood to attract degree when Theo Hernandez fouled substitute Mason Mount within the field.

Kane had the chance make historical past however uncharacteristically blazed his penalty excessive and England’s World Cup dream was over as France stay up for a semi-ultimate towards Morocco.

England’s exit so merciless

England have been accused of constructing timid exits at main tournaments up to now however this cost can’t be levelled at Gareth Southgate and his gamers right here.

They matched France and have been superior for lengthy spells, with Saka and Declan Rice excellent, so this will likely be a painful loss as a path to their first World Cup ultimate since 1966 seemed to be opening up.

Sadly for England and Southgate, they have been unable to take the probabilities that got here their method, they usually bumped into France keeper Lloris at his finest.

And it is going to be captain Kane who feels the frustration most acutely after lacking that second England penalty six minutes from time with the all-time England goalscoring document at his ft.

There was a palpable sense of disbelief across the stadium as this most dependable of penalty takers fired his spot-kick horribly excessive into England’s followers behind the objective.

It was a uncommon lapse and supervisor Southgate was swift to return on to the pitch on the ultimate whistle to console a participant who has been considered one of his excellent contributors.

England’s gamers seemed devastated on the finish – understandably, after performing so effectively.

The irony as they make their departure from Qatar is that whereas they’ve exited this World Cup one spherical sooner than they did 4 years in the past, this England group is far richer in promise. This will, in fact, be no comfort to Southgate and his squad.

Griezmann pulls the strings

The pre-match discuss centred on how England may cease France’s famous person Kylian Mbappe – however ultimately, their inspiration got here from elsewhere to arrange that semi-ultimate towards Morocco.

And the first supply was the very good Griezmann, who pulled the strings all through, offering the go for Tchouameni’s strike and later delivering an ideal cross for Giroud to show his penalty-field experience by edging in entrance of Harry Maguire to go powerfully previous Jordan Pickford.

Mbappe carried actual menace all through however England’s plan to subdue France’s largest risk labored to a big diploma – just for the skilled Giroud, at 36, and 31-yr-outdated Griezmann to mix to place the World Cup holders into the final 4 once more.