England out of the World Cup after 2-1 quarter-final loss to France
England fans reflect on a disappointing quarter-final after 2-1 defeat to France
England are out of the World Cup after losing to the reigning world champions, France in the quarter-finals.
The showdown was the toughest challenge for coach Gareth Southgate in this contest so far, with the score ending at 2-1 to France, after a goal in the sixteenth minute by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
This was followed by a successful penalty from Harry Kane after Tchouameni fouled Bukayo Saka inside the box.
However Les Bleus made it 2-1 after a goal from Olivier Giroud in the 77th minute of playing time.
Skipper Kane then missed a vital penalty that could have equalised the score for England.
ITV News' Warren Nettleford looks back on how the Three Lions lost their World Cup dream
Tchouaméni fired home a low drive drive from 25 yards - while England’s players complained about a foul at the other end of the pitch on Bukayo Saka.
England were later disappointed after a penalty wasn't awarded following a supposed foul on Harry Kane.
A lengthy VAR check was eventually waved away, after a contact from Dayot Upamecano seemingly coming just outside the France penalty area.
Aurélien Tchouaméni's goal against England
However English pride was restored after a penalty was awarded to the side in the 53rd minute, with a goal from Harry Kane.
Pickford saved well from Giroud but just moments later France’s all-time record scorer was on hand to head in a Griezmann cross, with the help of a deflection.
Harry Kane later missed a vital penalty which could have equalised the score for England.
England skipper Harry Kane equalises with penalty
While England Substitute Marcus Rashford sent a last-gasp free-kick just over the bar as France players celebrated a hard-fought 2-1 win that sets up a semi-final clash with Morocco.
Speaking after the match, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said he felt sorry for Kane and thought the defeat would be a tough one for England to take.
“The first half didn’t go so well and we had a couple of decisions that went against us but we came back well from those.
“There was a period where we were all over them.
Olivier Giroud makes it 2-1 to France
“You are disappointed for Harry missing the pen. He’s the man, he’s done brilliantly but he’s tried to make sure of getting it in and it’s not quite worked out. It’s so disappointing for him.”
It was the first time the two men's sides have faced each other in a knockout game of any tournament, and the first time at a World Cup since 1982.
France will go on to face Morocco in the semi-finals, after the Atlas Lions team became the first African side to reach that level in this tournament in history, following a shock victory against Portugal.
Marcus Rashford's last gasp free-kick for England
The Three Lions were an unchanged side at the start of the clash.
Southgate stuck with the same starting XI that won 3-0 over Senegal in the last-16, with Raheem Sterling starting on the bench having missed the Senegal victory after returning to the UK to deal with an incident at his home.
Southgate intimated in the build-up to the game that he would retain a back four rather than adopt a more defensive approach and he stuck to his word.
France also made no alterations from the team which beat Poland 3-1 to reach the last eight, with five-goal Kylian Mbappe among their line-up.
Southgate has said the Three Lions are "ready to fight France" and said the team must produce the “very best version” of themselves if they are to make it to the semi-finals.
He added that England are better prepared for World Cup success than four years ago, when the team was knocked out during the semi-finals by Croatia.
“The biggest thing for me in the game is going to be our mentality,” the England manager said. “We’ll of course be tactically prepared.
“But on these nights you’ve got to have men that stand up and take on the challenge. That’s the bit that we’ve got to prove to people."
“We’ve had some outstanding nights and the next game is always the most important. It’s against a good level of opponent, one we’re ready for.
"One, if you’d asked me four years ago were we quite ready, I’m not sure. Now I feel differently about that, and that’s because we’ve got evidence over a long period of results."
Having comfortably topped their group and beaten Senegal in the round of 16, millions of people are expected to tune into live coverage of the game at Al Bayt Stadium, which will be broadcast on ITV1.
Amid growing anticipation, the French president Emmanuel Macron asked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak if he would support France in the semi-final if his side emerged victorious.
“Dear Rishi Sunak, looking forward to the game tonight,” Mr Macron tweeted.
“If Les Bleus win (they will!), you’ll wish us luck in the semi-final… right?”
Mr Sunak responded a few minutes later, tweeting: “Hopefully I won’t have to. But you’ve got a deal.
“Look forward to you getting behind the Three Lions in the next round.”
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