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

England’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment as they went out despite a fine performance in the quarter-finals against France at Al Bayt Stadium.

France took a 17th-minute lead when Aurelien Tchouameni’s 25-yard drive beat Jordan Pickford low to his right.

England were the better team for long spells and created chances, deservedly pulling level nine minutes after the break when Kane beat Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris in convincing fashion with his penalty after Tchouameni fouled Bukayo Saka.

France regained the lead 12 minutes from time when Olivier Giroud headed in Antoine Griezmann’s perfect cross but England had a swift chance to draw level when Theo Hernandez fouled substitute Mason Mount in the box.

Kane had the opportunity to make history but uncharacteristically blazed his penalty over the top and England’s World Cup dream was over as France look forward to a semi-final against Morocco.

England’s exit so cruel

England have been accused of making timid exits at major tournaments in the past but this charge cannot be levelled at Gareth Southgate and his players here.

They matched France and were superior for long spells, with Saka and Declan Rice outstanding, so this will be a painful loss as a route to their first World Cup final since 1966 appeared to be opening up.

Sadly for England and Southgate, they were unable to take the chances that came their way, and they ran into France keeper Lloris at his best.

And it will be captain Kane who feels the disappointment most acutely after missing that second England penalty six minutes from time with the all-time England goalscoring record at his feet.

There was a palpable sense of disbelief around the stadium as this most reliable of penalty takers fired his spot-kick horribly high into England’s fans behind the goal.

It was a rare lapse and manager Southgate was swift to come on to the pitch at the final whistle to console a player who has been one of his outstanding contributors.

England’s players looked devastated at the end – understandably, after performing so well.

The irony as they make their departure from Qatar is that while they have exited this World Cup one round earlier than they did four years ago, this England team is much richer in promise. This will, of course, be no consolation to Southgate and his squad.

Griezmann pulls the strings

The pre-match talk centred on how England could stop France’s superstar Kylian Mbappe – but in the end, their inspiration came from elsewhere to set up that semi-final against Morocco.

And the primary source was the superb Griezmann, who pulled the strings throughout, providing the pass for Tchouameni’s strike and later delivering a perfect cross for Giroud to demonstrate his penalty-box expertise by edging in front of Harry Maguire to head powerfully past Pickford.

Mbappe carried real menace throughout but England’s plan to subdue France’s biggest threat worked to a large degree – only for the experienced Giroud, at 36, and 31-year-old Griezmann to combine to put the World Cup holders into the last four again.

Player of the match

SakaBukayo Saka

with an average of 7.41

England

1. Squad number17Player nameSaka

   Average rating

   7.41

2. Squad number22Player nameBellingham

   Average rating

   6.87

3. Squad number2Player nameWalker

   Average rating

   6.53

4. Squad number4Player nameRice

   Average rating

   6.40

5. Squad number8Player nameHenderson

   Average rating

   6.28

6. Squad number1Player namePickford

   Average rating

   6.14

7. Squad number20Player nameFoden

   Average rating

   6.00

8. Squad number5Player nameStones

   Average rating

   5.92

9. Squad number3Player nameShaw

   Average rating

   5.80

10. Squad number9Player nameKane

    Average rating

    5.79

11. Squad number6Player nameMaguire

    Average rating

    5.75

12. Squad number11Player nameRashford

    Average rating

    5.11

13. Squad number19Player nameMount

    Average rating

    5.08

14. Squad number7Player nameGrealish

    Average rating

    4.53

15. Squad number10Player nameSterling

    Average rating

    4.37

France

1. Squad number7Player nameGriezmann

   Average rating

   6.56

2. Squad number9Player nameGiroud

   Average rating

   6.47

3. Squad number1Player nameLloris

   Average rating

   6.25

4. Squad number8Player nameTchouaméni

   Average rating

   5.83

5. Squad number11Player nameDembélé

   Average rating

   5.59

6. Squad number10Player nameMbappé

   Average rating

   5.56

7. Squad number14Player nameRabiot

   Average rating

   5.54

8. Squad number4Player nameVarane

   Average rating

   5.38

9. Squad number5Player nameKoundé

   Average rating

   5.24

10. Squad number20Player nameComan

    Average rating

    4.97

11. Squad number18Player nameUpamecano

    Average rating

    4.84

12. Squad number22Player nameHernández

    Average rating

    4.73