Al Khor, Qatar: Targets by Oliver Giroud and Aurelien Tchouameni gave France a 2-1 win over England that took the holders right into a World Cup semi-final with Morocco after Harry Kane equalised from the spot however then blazed a second late penalty over the bar on Saturday.
France are actually one win away from turning into the primary back-to- again finalists since Brazil in 2002 and two from turning into the third crew to retain the trophy after Brazil in 1962 and Italy in 1938.
They needed to work laborious for his or her win although as the primary event knockout match between the 2 previous sporting rivals maintained the joy of this extraordinary quarter-final weekend.
England’s Jude Bellingham fights for the ball with France’s Antoine Griezmann through the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
France went forward after 17 minutes, breaking as England have been nonetheless complaining a few foul not given on Bukayo Saka.
Antoine Griezmann rolled the ball invitingly into the trail of Tchouameni, whose 25-yard low shot flew simply contained in the put up and past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England finally bought going, pushing and probing, although with out an excessive amount of precision, although France keeper Hugo Lloris was fast off his line to avoid wasting on the toes of Kane, then parried one other drive from Englands captain.
France’s Aurelien Tchouameni celebrates after scoring in opposition to England.
Lloris was in motion once more firstly of the second half, tipping a fierce Jude Bellingham shot over the bar as England got here out filled with objective.
Saka, who had seemed their most threatening participant within the first half, was then tripped by Tchouameni and Kane smashed the penalty excessive past his Tottenham Hotspur crew mate Lloris to attract degree with Wayne Rooney as Englands report scorer on 53.
England have been buoyed by the objective and have been enjoying with enormous confidence however although centre-back Harry Maguire brushed a put up with a header they may not make their dominance rely.
As a substitute France hit again as Griezmann swung in a cross that Giroud did brilliantly to succeed in in entrance of Maguire and plant his header into the web for his fourth objective of the event.
England’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the equaliser in opposition to France. Picture: Twitter/FIFA World Cup
England got one other lifeline by way of VAR when Theo Hernandez flattened Mason Mount however Kane despatched his spot kick wildly over the bar six minutes from time.
England pushed for an equaliser however when Marcus Rashford’s added-time free kick fizzed simply over the bar they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 World Cup quarter-finals.
France will play Morocco for a spot within the closing on Wednesday after the North Africans beat Portugal 1-0 in Saturday’s earlier quarter-final.