Hopes of a nation are DASHED after Three Lions CRASH OUT of World Cup in crushing 1-2 defeat to France as Harry Kane rues blazing late penalty over the bar and country vents anger at Brazilian 'cheat' referee who gave a string of dodgy decisions
- England have been knocked out of World Cup, losing 2-1 to France in Qatar
- The nation's torturous wait for glory on the international stage will go on
- Gareth Southgate's men were utterly devastated when the final whistle blew
England's torturous wait for glory on the international stage will go on after a critical penalty miss from Harry Kane saw the Three Lions crash out of the World Cup in a breathless 1-2 defeat to defending champions France.
Gareth Southgate's men were utterly devastated at the final whistle and Kane was inconsolable, sinking to his knees and hiding his face in his hands in a futile attempt to prevent the tears from streaking down his face.
There were similar scenes in the stands of the Al Bayt stadium as the wives, girlfriends and families of the despairing players looked on, wiping tears from their eyes before embracing their fallen heroes who sauntered off the pitch in search of solace.
All the while England fans in Qatar and back in Britain were stunned, scarcely able to believe the result when just minutes earlier it looked as though their star striker was going to fire the Three Lions into extra time.
Related Articles
The teams went into half time tied at 1-1, but Les Bleus managed to claw their way in front when their all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud scrambled in front of Harry Maguire and guided an excellent ball from Griezmann in at the near post.
France's lead looked like it was going to be short lived when substitute Mason Mount was bundled to the floor in the box and was awarded a penalty.
But Kane, having scored an assured spot kick minutes earlier, saw his second effort soar miles over the crossbar, sending the Three Lions crashing out of the World Cup at the quarter final stage.
Gareth Southgate's men were heartbroken, the players listing helplessly around the pitch in utter dejection while the French contingent erupted into wild celebrations.
Southgate made a beeline for his captain Kane, who looked as though he could scarcely believe the result.
England's captain had sunk to his knees at the final whistle and his teammates requested TV cameras to turn their focus elsewhere.
Jude Bellingham meanwhile collapsed to the turf in tears and was also consoled by his manager and Jordan Henderson.
Southgate showed true sportsmanship in defeat by congratulating France captain Hugo Loris, while the remainder of his players fought through tears to salute and applaud their fans.
The England manager told the BBC that the manner in which his team went out of the World Cup after a battling performance was 'cruel.'
He said he would sit down with the Football Association to discuss his future as' tonight is not the night to make decisions.'
He added: 'I just said to the players… I don't think they could have given any more. They have played really well against a top team. We win and lose as a team. We have let a couple of goals in and missed a few chances.'
On Kane, he said: 'He has been incredible for us. He has been so reliable in that situation and we wouldn't be here without the goals he has scored for us.
'We came here to try and win the tournament and we had the belief that we could.'
England midfielder Jordan Henderson told reporters after the game: 'It is hard now to sum it up, it is hard to find the right words.
'I thought we gave everything in the game, we were disappointed to go 1-0 down but we showed the character and mentality to keep going and find the equaliser.
'We gave it everything and unfortunately it wasn't our night.'
He said of Kane's penalty miss: 'We know how many penalties Harry has scored for us, how many goals he has contributed to even get us here.
'He will be stronger for this in the future. He is a world-class striker and our captain, he will bounce back.'
England fans in the Al Bayt stadium insisted that they were proud of the team but devastated by the loss.
Painter Mick Warner, 38, who was sat right behind the French goal for Kane's penalty, said: 'I saw that his eyes were completely focused, and I thought - this is one of the most potent strikers in the world. He never really misses a penalty.
'But he ballooned it over. I just can't understand what went wrong. He's normally so cool, but he pulled his shirt over his face and I could see he just wanted to disappear.
'I have followed England at three world cups and it's always the same. We are always so unlucky. It's heartbreaking tonight. And there's no way to get a drink!'
Bob Mugall, 42 from east London said: 'I thought the lads played really well and had enough chances to win it.
'I'm gutted because I really thought it was going to be England's year. The team's played well at this tournament and they were very unlucky tonight.'
David Webster, 59 from Cheshire said: 'It's a hard one to take. I'm not sure what to say to be honest and I can't imagine what the players are going through.
'The team did us proud out here and haven't let us or the country down. It hurts a lot but we'll be back.'
The Prince of Wales sent a personal message to the England team, saying he was 'gutted' for Southgate and the players, adding: 'We are all so proud of you.'
After the game, William tweeted: 'Gareth, Harry and the whole England squad and staff, gutted for all of you.
'You put so much into this tournament and we are all so proud of you. Heads held high and on to the next one!'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said England deserved to win the game and the result was 'absolutely gutting'.
Former striker Wayne Rooney, who is now tied with Kane as England's all-time top scorer, tweeted: 'Absolutely gutted for the lads but proud of the way they've played this tournament and they should be proud.
'Congratulations to Harry on equalling the record – he'll be on his own soon and couldn't think of anyone better to take over. Keep your head up, Harry.'
Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick when England won the World Cup final in 1966, tweeted: 'Proud of every single player and the way they have played. Sometimes the heart just doesn't get what it wants on the night.'
Former England striker Michael Owen tweeted: 'So proud of this team. Massive future ahead of them. We were the better team but that's football. Well done – we'll win it soon.'
About half the population of England is believed to have watched the thriller on ITV – 21.1 million at home and 5.8 million in pubs and restaurants.
Expectant fans packed bars across England to give pubs their busiest day in three years, and some 48 million pints were expected to be sunk.
Back in Britain, hordes of dejected fans spoke of their heartache, having just witnessed the Three Lions come up short yet again.
Supporters at the Lunar Springs warehouse in Birmingham had jumped onto tables and screamed in ecstasy when England were awarded a second penalty of the night but total silence descended on the packed venue when Harry Kane's second penalty ballooned over the bar.
Some fans simply could not contain their disappointment, bursting into tears at the final whistle.
Charlie Bromyard, 33, sobbing into his pint of lager, said: 'I've never seen him miss. It's all too much. That was our chance.'
Football coach Dan Kembery, 24, said: 'I feel great frustration. France were the better side but this English side has a real future.
'We are packed full of young players who have multiple tournaments ahead of them. For me it is all about the future now. I hope they stick with Southgate. He's the most successful England manager since Alf Ramsay and he gets the best out of the players.'
Jake Bate, 30, a sales manager, said: 'Southgate made all the right decisions but France were a step too far. We were very, very close. I did have greater hopes for this World Cup than previous ones so this is hard to take but I think France will be the eventual winners.'
Sally Atkinson, 28, a beauty therapist, said: 'I can't believe it's all over. It feels like such an anti-climax, and it's worse when it is freezing cold too.'
Paul Wilson, 59, from North Shields, said: 'We didn't take our chances, defensively one mistake, nobody picked Giroud up, great header to be fair, but we were the much better side and, if I'm being honest, this is a massive opportunity missed.
'There's not a side, I don't believe, left in the tournament that England couldn't have gone on and beat, but it's all about putting the ball in the back of the net.'
Speaking outside the Al Bayt stadium, he added: 'What makes it worse is every single one of those players sitting in the dressing room now will regret the biggest opportunity they've ever had to win the World Cup.'
The two teams looked very well matched from the first whistle with end-to-end football delighting the fans in Qatar's Al-Bayt stadium.
Defending champions France took the lead after 17 minutes of play with an exceptional long range effort from Aurelien Tchouameni.
The goal, driven in low from 25 yards by Real Madrid midfielder, came moments after Bukayo Saka appeared to have been fouled at the other end of the pitch.
England looked to hit back immediately after Tchouameni's wonder-strike and won a free-kick just on the edge of the French box, but Luke Shaw's effort was comfortably collected by French keeper Hugo Lloris.
The Three Lions continued to apply pressure and came close to equalising on several occasions, with Lloris producing a stellar save at his near post to deny one particularly powerful effort from Kane before half time.
England fans roared their disapproval in the 24th minute when Kane looked to have been brought down in the penalty area but both Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio and a VAR check signalled play on.
Former England footballer and broadcaster Gary Lineker tweeted: 'One of these days, just once, we might get a decision in our favour.'
After the break, the Three Lions did manage to earn a penalty, which Kane smashed into the top corner well beyond the clutches of Lloris.
The star striker's successful spot kick sent the Al Bayt stadium into raptures, with fans revelling in what they felt were just desserts after the referee refused to award a deserved spot kick in the first half.
But France's talisman Giroud dragged his team back ahead of England, heading home a cross from compatriot Griezmann.
Moments later, Kane had the opportunity to score a second penalty to bring England level again and become the national team's all-time top scorer, but his effort rose metres over the crossbar.
England continued to pressure into the dying moments, and for a second there was a ray of hope when Marcus Rashford lined up to take a free kick.
The Manchester United striker lashed a fantastic effort towards goal but the ball sailed mere inches over the crossbar and the referee blew his whistle, bringing England's World Cup campaign in Qatar to a gut-wrenching close.
After the game, England right back Kyle Walker said he would not have wanted anybody else to take the penalties, reaasoning that Kane was used to facing the Premier League's top goalkeepers.
He said: 'That's football. He put one away and he put one over. Let's not dwell on it. Let's move forward.'
He said Kane would bounce back from his disappointment because 'that is the player he is.'
The Manchester City defender added England's future was bright with young players like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
The referee, Wilton Sampaio, was subjected to a barrage of negative comments from English supporters, following two contentious decisions in the first half.
The official also received criticism from Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who took to Twitter to say: 'One of these days, just once, we might get a decision in our favour.'
Mr Sampaio's Wikipedia page was also edited, with the referee listed as having 'lost his guide dog' and a 'Brazilian cheat'.
At Propyard in Bristol, around 500 fans watched the game on large TV screens in a temporary marquee.
Among them was John Andrews, 39, who said: 'England were the better team in the second half and I couldn't believe Harry missed the second penalty.
'We didn't deserve to lose and should have had a penalty in the first half. I couldn't believe some of the decisions the ref gave. I'm gutted.'
Gemma Wilson, 32, from Bristol, said: 'I really thought Rashford's free-kick was in.
'We deserved to get more out of the game. France were lucky. I'm so proud of the team.'
Earlier, Kane led his teammates onto the turf at Qatar's Al-Bayt stadium for their quarter-final clash with the defending champions.
Both teams cruised their way into the quarter-final stage, but Saturday's match is the biggest of the tournament yet, with some fans even describing it as a 'final' following Brazil's shock exit to Croatia.
Fans on both sides agreed the winners of tonight's match will have one hand on the trophy.
France now go on to face Morocco in the semi-finals on Wednesday after the African nation triumphed over Portugal earlier today.
Gareth Southgate and his French counterpart Didier Deschamps named unchanged starting lineups for tonight's battle.
Defending champions France started with Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe up front.
Keeper Hugo Lloris won a record-extending 143rd cap for Les Bleus, breaking the tie with 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, while Jordan Pickford earned his 50th cap between the England posts.
Comments
Comments
{{formattedShortCount}}
comments