Harry Kane’s mistake dooms England: France in semifinals

England – France 1-2 in the last quarterfinal of the World Cup

A gangly England side, which was able to react in the best possible way to Tchouameni’s goal after 17 minutes, was not enough to get the better of the very talented France side, which was nevertheless harnessed by the English for most of the match. At the Al-Bayt stadium in Al Khor, it was in fact the transalpinians who earned the pass to the World Cup semifinals, where awaiting them will be the increasingly surprising Morocco.

The match in the early stages experiences the inevitable phases of study, with the teams more careful not to take it than to give it. The balance is broken by a gem from Tchouameni, who from 25′ strikes a Pickford who did not seem irresistible on the occasion. The ‘Three Lions’, however, reacted well, already threatening Lloris at the end of the first half, thanks to a Harry Kane’s ball that the Spurs goalkeeper deflected into a corner.

In the second half, it was always England that played the game: their efforts were crowned in the 51st minute, when a lively Saka was landed in the box by the ‘Bleus’ goal scorer: impeccable from the penalty spot by the British captain, and it was 1-1.

France then resumed grinding play, but the English responded blow by blow. After a good chance on each side, signed by Maguire and Giroud, it was the AC Milan striker, in the 77th minute, who put the French back in front with a beautiful header on a splendid assist from Griezmann.

Over? Nope. Just 5 minutes later a naive Theo Hernandez landed the sub Mount in the penalty area. After the on-file rewiew, the match director opted for a second penalty in favor of the Britons: Harry Kane, who with the first goal had grabbed Wayne Rooney at the top of the all-time list of English bombers in the national team, this time shot sky high, thus giving France the pass to the World Cup semifinals. For Mbappé and co. there is now the Morocco exam.