Kane misses crucial penalty as France edge England to reach semi-final

What could have been a memorable night for Harry Kane became a nightmare for the England captain. 

It all happened within almost half an hour of a high-intensity quarter-final against reigning champions France at the Al Bayt Stadium yesterday. 

The Tottenham Hotspur striker netted from a clinical spot kick in the 54th minute cancelling out a spectacular 17th minute strike by Aurelien Tchouameni, who struck the opener from 25 yards. 

It was goal number 53 from Kane, equaling Wayne Rooney’s record as the all-time leading scorer for England.    

After veteran French forward Olivier Giroud’s header regained the lead for Les Bleus in the 78th minute, Kane had another opportunity to score the equaliser and record-breaking goal from the spot with five minutes left. 

But the 29-year-old fired high over the bar giving France a pathway to the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory. The two-time winners will take on Morocco at the same venue on Wednesday.

A victory over the North Africans will make France the first side to play back-to-back finals since Brazil in 1998 and 2002. 

“It’s brilliant for the players to be in the last four again,” said France coach Didier Deschamps, before adding his team was a “bit lucky” to emerge as winners after giving away two penalties.   

Olivier Giroud (centre) scores France’s  second goal. REUTERS

“It’s fabulous, it was a big game. We played a superb England team who are strong technically and physically.” 

“We will prepare for the next game thoroughly. Morocco deserve praise. Maybe they were not expected to be here (in the semis), but they conceded only one goal and seeing them here is not a surprise at all,” he added. 

Statistically, Gareth Southgate’s men were better enjoying more ball possession and making 16 attempts, a double more than Didier Deschamps’ side. They also took eight shots on target as compared to France’s five, and Southgate must have returned thinking his team had a chance had Kane converted the second penalty. 

“It’s extraordinary, we worked a lot in defence and in the end we managed to threaten,” Giroud, who scored the decisive goal, said. 

“We knew the potential of this young England team. They have everything but we played a solid game, we tried to hurt them on the break. We went for it with all our mental strength,” the 36-year-old added.  

Tchouameni’s stunning goal set the platform for a gripping clash as the Real Madrid player picked a ball from Antoine Griezmann to stun England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defenders in the middle with a strike from a distance.    

The goal had England on their toes in the match that witnessed intensity from the start with France making early strides. 

Leading scorer in Qatar with five goals, Kylian Mbappe surrounded by English players had a quiet night by his standards with Kyle Walker gaining an edge in the anticipated battle between the Paris Saint-Germain striker and the Manchester City defender.       

After Jude Bellingham gifted Mbappe a pass, it was Walker who blocked the Frenchman’s way from reaching him inside the box.    

Kane got his first opportunity in the match after he beat Dayot Upamecano following a ball from an impressive Bukayo Saka but his shot from a tight angle failed to beat Lloris – featuring in his record-breaking 143rd match for France.   

Kane’s appeal for a penalty after he was brought down by Upamecano was ruled out by VAR. 

Mbappe had an attempt late in the first half after a ball from Adrien Rabiot but he hit over the bar. England returned with more aggression and Bellingham showed his class lashing from edge of the box with Lloris tipping over the bar. 

The Three Lions won their first penalty of the match after Saka was brought down by Tchouameni on the right, with Kane sending Lloris the other way with a powerful strike to his left.

France players celebrate after the match. REUTERS

Mbappe soon cleared past Walker down the left to hit a cross but no Frenchman could connect with the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s fine ball.   

As the thriller continued to swing both sides, Deschamps’ fear of England’s brilliance in set pieces almost came true with 20 minutes remaining as Harry Maguire’s header just missed the target. England soon came close to scoring again but Saka’s touch from a Luke Shaw cross went wide. 

Giroud missed a scoring chance firing a good ball straight at the hands of Pickford. But the veteran AC Milan forward soon made amends heading a brilliant cross from Griezmann past the England goalkeeper to send France into the lead again. 

England got an instant chance for an equaliser after VAR handed them a second penalty following Theo Hernandez’s foul against Mason Mount. 

But Kane trying to generate extra pace against Lloris skied his shot, giving France their first World Cup win over England.  

“It feels like a missed chance because I felt the performances were really good and the focus and the hunger was good every single day,” said England’s Jordan Henderson.

“You’ve got to give credit to France, they’re a good team, but I think I felt it was there for us to win tonight.”