England’s National team on Saturday night blew away its chance of playing in the semi-final match against Morocco as captain of the team, Harry Kane who equalled England’s all-time scoring record failed to convert a late minute penalty awarded to the team after Mason Mount was fouled in their opponent’s penalty box.
The Three Lions lost the semi-final match to France by 2-1.
Didier Deschamps’ world champions took the lead on 17 minutes through Aurelien Tchouameni’s 25-yard strike.
England felt there had been a foul in the build up and were also frustrated when VAR failed to support their appeal for a penalty following what looked like a foul on Kane just before the break.
The Three Lions didn’t have to wait too long for the equaliser though with Kane stepping up to equal Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for England’s men’s senior side from the penalty spot on 54 minutes.
England were on the front foot but were stunned 12 minutes from time when Olivier Giroud headed in Antonie Griezmann’s excellent cross.
Gareth Southgate’s team then had a glorious chance to take the game to extra time but Kane blazed another spot kick over the bar six minutes from the end.
France will now look forward to a last-four meeting with Morocco on Wednesday.
Talking Point
England come up short. All of the pre-match talk had been about the threat of Kylian Mbappe, but the PSG man was relatively quiet and his team still managed to gain the upper hand.
Southgate and his players may well point to some dubious decisions from the officials that went against them, but they could still have forced extra time had Kane remained the usually reliable force he is from the spot.
The Spurs forward had all of his country’s hopes on and the outright goal record for the men’s senior side on his shoulders – and it showed as he blazed over.
As the ball disappeared over the bar, so did England’s dreams of continuing a progression that saw a semi-final in Russia followed by the runner-up spot at Euro 2020.
Questions will be asked of Southgate, but they probably shouldn’t be as England still impressed on the whole at this tournament and France remain a strong bet to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup trophy.
Player of the match
Olivier Giroud (France) It came down to the two players with record goal hauls for their country.
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Kane could have been the hero, but couldn’t keep his cool from the spot on two occasion, while Giroud once again showed how underrated he is with a crucial, match-winning header.
