England 1-2 France (Kane pen 54′, missed pen 84′ | Tchouameni 17′, Giroud 78′)
For all the pre-match talk about Kylian Mbappe, of the tantalising individual battles sprawled across the pitch, and in the hours before kick-off the prospect of meeting the World Cup’s surprise force Morocco in the semis, England vs France was defined by two Harry Kane penalties: one scored, one squandered.
Kane has endured his fair share of near-misses: the Premier League title in 2016, the Champions League in 2019, League Cups in 2015 and 2021, the European Championship last summer. None of those agonising setbacks may haunt him as much as the penalty miss six minutes from time in a World Cup quarter-final that England shaded for large periods against the world champions.
It was always going to be a tough ask but the manner of the exit will hurt. England were just as good – if not superior – to a team featuring arguably the world’s best player and packed full of stars. It was settled, as it always is at the pinnacle of the sport, by fine margins. This one will sting for some time.
Morocco, the first African side to reach the final four of the World Cup in its 92-year history, lie in wait for Les Bleus. The Atlas Lions may be shorn of three of their regular back four due to injury, but having held Croatia, beaten Belgium and eliminated Spain then Portugal, they are expertly riding a wave of emotion and will fear no-one. Yassine Bounou has conceded just once in five games at this tournament; Sofyan Amrabat has been one of the tournament’s best players; Hakim Ziyech, barely used by Chelsea, is a man reborn.
More from Football
Kane was destined to score England's second penalty against France but the pressure broke him10 December, 2022
Magnificent Saka, struggling Foden and solid Stones - England's player ratings against France10 December, 2022
Ronaldo cries but the Arab world rejoices at Morocco's World Cup history-makers10 December, 2022Gareth Southgate decided against changing a winning formula by sticking with the same personnel and system that eased to victory against Senegal. There was speculation that the England boss may deviate from the 4-3-3 formation that has been this tournament’s Plan A in favour the 3-5-2 that was used throughout Euro 2020 to accommodate Kieran Trippier and double up on Mbappe.
That Southgate decided against that tactical tweak was a demonstration of faith in his gameplan, his players’ aptitude to execute it and Kyle Walker’s ability to neutralise Mbappe. Didier Deschamps, who has also been accused of being overly cautious by his demanding critics, also named an unchanged side with Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud joining Mbappe in attack and Antoine Griezmann positioned just behind.
England were so preoccupied with France’s main man and fab four that they forgot about Aurelien Tchouameni. Had N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba been fit, the 22-year-old would have surely played the role of closer rather than starter at this tournament; instead he lashed France in front with an emphatic drive from distance that careered past Jordan Pickford on its way into the bottom corner. Bukayo Saka was clearly fouled in the build-up by Dayot Upamecano but a free-kick wasn’t given. C’est La Vie.
Advantage France
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 10, 2022
A stunning strike from Aurélien Tchouaméni to give France the lead against England#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/v1tkF6Z2eD
Kane led the England fightback, forcing long-term club-mate Hugo Lloris into two saves, one from inside the six-yard box and another from long-range. Squeezed between those efforts was an unsuccessful penalty appeal that was contentiously ignored by referee Wilton Sampaio and after a delay, disregarded by the VAR.
It looked a certain foul, Kane going to ground after a tangle of legs with the impatient Upamecano, but the Bayern Munich defender was given the benefit of the doubt, presumably as the contact looked may have started outside the box.
England player ratings
Read i’s full player ratings here
- Jordan Pickford: 7
- Kyle Walker: 6.5
- John Stones: 7.5
- Harry Maguire: 6.5
- Luke Shaw: 6
- Jordan Henderson: 6
- Declan Rice: 7
- Jude Bellingham: 7
- Bukayo Saka: 8.5
- Harry Kane: 7
- Phil Foden: 5
Griezmann, a Golden Boot winner at Euro 2016 and France’s third-highest scorer in history, has been repackaged and repurposed as an all-action midfielder in Qatar. He epitomised France’s aggressive approach, snapping around ankles before eventually earning a yellow card with his third offence before the break. English fans cheered in response, a reaction that betrayed their feelings of injustice.
England started the second half in the ascendancy. Moments after being scythed down by Dembele, Jude Bellingham forced Lloris into another acrobatic stop with a sweetly struck volley that spun elegantly through the air. And then a penalty was given, when Tchouameni clamped Saka’s calf. Kane stepped up, faced Lloris in the eye for the thousandth time from this position and won the battle of the wits, sending his Spurs ally the wrong way. It was a record-equalling strike, moving him level with Wayne Rooney on 53 international goals.
Another chance to equalise and this time Kane isn't so lucky!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 10, 2022
The England skipper sends the ball over the bar and it looks like their chances are on the brink…#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uO01lfF1im
For all the pre-match talk about how Walker would go about subduing Mbappe, there was far less analysis about how France would handle England’s technicians. They seemingly had no clue how to contain Saka other than to drag, push or trip him to the ground. From one foul on Saka – that Sampaio managed to spot – England almost scored a second, with Harry Maguire heading a free-kick inches wide of the post.
At the other end, Giroud went one better, nodding in at Pickford’s near post from a sumptuous Griezmann delivery with the aid of a Maguire touch. Giroud, who became France’s all-time record goalscorer at this tournament looked to have fluffed his lines when volleying straight at Pickford, but redemption was along swiftly.
England’s No 9 also has a place in the record breaks within sight. After going level with Rooney, Kane had a golden chance to surpass him when Mason Mount was barged off the ball by Theo Hernandez. This time, the penalty soared high over the crossbar.
An animated Lloris was mobbed by jubilant team-mates afterwards, as Kane lifted his shirt to his mouth in despair. Moments after Marcus Rashford’s free-kick had pre-empted the final whistle, he sunk to his haunches.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/cdMXwDJ
Post a Comment