France is still alive in the defense of the world title won in 2018. Didier Deschamps’ team beat England 2-1 yesterday to secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, where they will face the surprise selection of Morocco. The English added another disappointment, this time compounded by a missed penalty from Harry Kane in the 84th minute, which could have taken the game to extra time.
The French team took control of the game from the start and immediately showed that it was there to continue its journey to its second consecutive world title, something only achieved by Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962 ).
Giroud started off with a warning, with a dangerous header, into the middle of the England centre-backs, which Jordan Pickford saved. It wasn’t long before, in the 17th minute, the goal came with midfielder Aurélian Tchouaméni, assisted by Antoine Griezmann, firing strongly and placing into the back of goal from outside the penalty area for England.
Hostilities were open in this classic of world football. And in the favour, France knew they could pull back their lines a bit and take advantage of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembelé’s speed on the counter-attacks. And the truth is that the English who had been calmer from then on rolled up their sleeves and looked for a draw, led by captain Harry Kane who, after a dangerous free-kick from Luke Shaw, started an intense duel with the guard- goals Hugo Lloris, his teammate at Tottenham, who became the most caps for his country in this game, with 147 appearances, one more than Lilian Thuram.
Inspired by that performance, Lloris kept his team in the lead by stopping two shots from friend Kane. The second half promised strong emotions and it was confirmed in the closing moments, when the French goalkeeper flew to deflect a shot from Jude Bellingham that went in goal.
In the 54th minute, however, Hugo Lloris was unable to do anything in the duel with Harry Kane, who scored the equalizer from the penalty spot, equaling Wayne Rooney as the best ever scorer for the England team, with 53 goals. This move eventually turned Tchouaméni from hero to villain as he was the one who fouled Buyako Saka, allowing the draw.
The game took on new life and even more intensity and speed. The French reaction was immediate as Adrián Rabiot fired on a stunning save from Pickford. The English didn’t want to be left behind, first with a header from Maguire on the post and then with a shot from Saka that felt like it went in. The minutes passed in a dizzying game, but the idea of another extra time in this World Cup (the third in the quarter-finals) loomed.
Admittedly, England were better in the game and France struggled. But in the 77th minute everything changed. The French attacking trident appeared, and Giroud blasted it to an extraordinary defense by Pickford. But after the ensuing corner, the England goalkeeper couldn’t do more as Griezmann crossed to head in Giroud to make it 2-1.
More suspense came six minutes later when VAR discovered a penalty from Théo Hernández on Mason Mount. New draw in sight? Kane picked up the ball and fired… into the stands, cementing England’s fate on penalties, but this time it wasn’t a shoot-out. But fate was the usual: England out.
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VIEW GAME STATISTICS HERE.
Source: DN
