France wins the battle against a great England
Harry Kane, hero and villain of his team after missing the penalty that sent them to extra time
MADRID, 10 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The French team got the last ticket to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar this Saturday after beating England (1-2) at the Al Bayt Stadium, after an even match that Harry Kane was able to send to extra time, if he did not miss his second penalty, to meet on Wednesday the 14th with Morocco, also victorious over Portugal, for a place in the final.
Although ‘Les Bleus’ took the lead through Aurelien Tchouaméni, the Tottenham forward equalized from the penalty spot. Olivier Giroud returned the lead after a great header and, although he had the opportunity to tie the game again, Kane sent his second penalty of the night high, thus ending his team’s chances of repeating the semifinals, after what they achieved in 2018.
Although he lacked the goal, Antoine Griezmann was the key piece in Didier Deschamps’ system, also becoming the top assist player in the history of France, after beating Thiery Henry with 28. The rojiblanco had some outstanding quarterfinals as a game generator and hinge with an attack formed by Kylian Mbappé, the historic Giroud -top scorer (53) of France- and the improved version of Ousmane Dembélé.
Without the initial score typical of a match of this magnitude, both teams took to the field wanting to demonstrate from the first minute. Thus, it was the world champion who struck first, through a sensational kick from the Real Madrid footballer, Aurélien Tchouaméni. The French midfielder hit a shot from outside the area against which Pickford could do little or nothing.
However, far from being intimidated, the ‘Three Lions’ did not lose face to the game and soon wanted to react. First Kane stood up to Lloris inside the area, but could not beat the goalkeeper after a reversal, and then tested his Tottenham teammate from the edge of the area. Back and forth match with many alternatives, which left a first half in which both had their phases and moments of control.
The same script continued in the restart, although with a more vertical England, who as soon as they left the changing rooms had the equalizer in Bellingham’s boots after a powerful shot from the edge that Lloris ended up deflecting for a corner. Good minutes from Gareth Southgate’s, who found the goal prize through Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal attacker did not stop trying on the right flank until he was brought down by Tchouaméni inside the area in one of his runs. Harry Kane did not forgive from eleven meters and returned the tables to the scoreboard, equaling Wayne Rooney as the top scorer in the history of the ‘Three Lions’ with 53 goals. From there, the English went for the game, turning all their game into the rival field.
Maguire sent a header to the post after a free kick taken from the side and shortly after Saka was about to finish off a measured cross that the French defense finally took out. However, when the English were at their best, Didier Deschamps’ men pulled out their claws and restored the lead on the scoreboard through a sensational Giroud who, after a great cross from Griezmann, headed into the back of the net.
Even so, Gareth Southgate’s men once again had the opportunity to equalize the contest, but Kane, this time less successful, sent his second penalty of the night into the clouds. The striker became the hero and villain of an English team that put an end to their World Cup adventure.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: ENGLAND, 1 – FRANCE, 2 (0-1, at halftime).
–LINE-UPS.
INGLATERRA: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson (Mount, min.79), Bellingham; Saka (Sterlin, min.79), Kane y Foden (Rashford, min.85).
FRANCE: Lloris; Kound, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele (Coman, min.79), Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
–GOALS.
0-1, min. 17: Tchouameni.
1-1, min. 54: Kane (penalty).
1-2, min. 78: Giroud.
–REFEREE: Wilton Sampaio (BRA). He admonished Griezmann (min.43), Dembélé (min.47) and Theo Hernández (min.82) for France, and Maguire (min.89) for England.
–ESTADIO: Al Bayt.