Heartbreak for England as France defeat Three Lions in dramatic quarter final after Kane misses late penalty

10 December 2022, 17:53 | Updated: 10 December 2022, 22:19

Kane appeared dejected after missing the penalty
Kane appeared dejected after missing the penalty. Picture: Getty

By Chris Samuel

England are out of the World Cup after being defeated by France in the quarter final, with Harry Kane missing a late penalty.

Gareth Southgate's side outclassed the French for long stretches, but moments of quality from Olivier Giroud and Aurélien Tchouaméni proved the difference.

Both sides were threatening, but France opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a thunderbolt from Tchouaméni from outside the box.

England continued to be frustrated, but appeared galvanised after the break carving out a number of chances.

And they were rewarded for their positivity, earning a penalty on 52 minutes after Bukayo Saka was brought down by France goalscorer Tchouameni.

Read more: Energy regulator Ofgem "extremely concerned" as almost 200 people left without gas for a week

Read more: Hi-de-Hi! star Ruth Madoc dies aged 79 while recovering in hospital from a fall

Harry Kane levelled the scores from the spot, with a goal that brought him to 53 for England, making him the nation's joint top scorer with Wayne Rooney.

But England's joy was short-lived, as Les Bleus struck again in the 78th minute, with Olivier Giroud rising to head in via a deflection off Harry Maguire.

Southgate responded and brought on Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling for Henderson and Saka.

England then threw everything at France to try and get an equaliser and were awarded a second penalty after Mason Mount was barged clumsily in the back on 82 minutes.

Harry Kane looks dejected after are knocked out by France at the quarter final stage.
Harry Kane looks dejected after are knocked out by France at the quarter final stage. Picture: Getty

Harry Kane stepped up once again, but the England skipper, who is usually lethal from the spot for club and country, blasted it over the bar.

The Three Lions continued to push forward, bringing on Jack Grealish for the injured John Stones, but Didier Deschamps' men held firm.

There was one final opportunity for England with a Rashford freekick at the death, but he couldn't get it to drop under the bar, and France secured their place in the semi-final.

Speaking to ITV after the game, Gareth Southgate said the players gave their all and deserved more from the game:

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after France book their place in the semi finals.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after France book their place in the semi finals. Picture: Getty

"Goals are decisive," he said, "but I’ve just said to the players, I don’t think they could have given any more.

"I think they played really well against a top team. There are fine margins, things at both ends that have ended up deciding the game, but the way the players have progressed as a group through this tournament has been fantastic.

"In most of the big moments we were in the right place. We had more shots on goal. But it’s a game of fine margins.”

Jordan Henderson also spoke to channel and was asked if he thought the defeat represented a big chance missed.

A disappointed Mason Mount drops on his haunches as holders France celebrate the win.
A disappointed Mason Mount drops on his haunches as holders France celebrate the win. Picture: Getty

“Probably, yeah," he said. "Unfortunately it wasn’t our night.

You have to give credit to France who are a good team, but I still felt it was there for us to win tonight.”

Addressing Harry Kane's penalty miss, he said: “We know how many penalties Harry Kane has scored for us. He scored the first one. How many goals he’s contributed for us to even get here.

He’ll be stronger for it in the long run, I’m sure. He’s a world-class striker and our captain. We wouldn’t be here without him.”

France will face Morocco, who earlier became the first African team in history to reach the semis, with a 1-0 win over Portugal.

You can read about how the game unfolded here:

Happening Now

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The average price tag on a home has jumped by more than £5,000 in the space of a month.

Average house price reaches record high for April after £5,000 monthly jump

Donald Trump has defended Vladimir Putin over a deadly attack on Sumy

Trump defends Putin over Palm Sunday attack on Ukraine after over 30 killed and more than 100 wounded

Aimee Lou Wood attends The Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2025 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 25, 2025 in London, England

Aimee Lou Wood hits out at SNL over 'mean and unfunny' White Lotus parody

Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after winning the Masters in a sudden death playoff on the No. 18 green at Augusta National Golf Club.

'Welcome to the club': Tiger Woods congratulates Rory McIlroy following long-awaited Masters victory

General view of staff on a NHS hospital ward

Skin cancer patients to be given fast-tracked access to vaccine trial on NHS

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy completes golf’s Grand Slam by winning Masters, after play-off drama

Members of a grooming gang in West Yorkshire who were jailed last year

Child sex abuse survivors launch legal campaign over authorities who 'failed to tackle grooming gang epidemic'

MPs have said that the claim of 'two-tier policing' related to the Southport riots is 'baseless'

'Two-tier policing' claim after Southport riots is 'baseless', MPs say

The outpatient and laboratory wards of the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist hospital are seen after being hit by an Israeli army strike

Lammy slams Israel's 'deplorable' attack on Gaza hospital

Jean Marsh has died

Jean Marsh, award-winning star and co-creator of Upstairs Downstairs, dies aged 90

Mickey Rourke

Moment Hollywood star Mickey Rourke kicked off Celebrity Big Brother after foul-mouthed tirade at housemates

Lanzarote has been hit by flooding

Easter travel warning for Lanzarote as Canary Island holiday hotspot hit with catastrophic floods

Katy Perry and the space team

Katy Perry debuts spacesuits she and all-female astronaut team will wear on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket launch

Three prison officers rushed to hospital after Manchester Arena terrorist 'threw scalding oil and stabbed them'

Ministers order review into Manchester Arena terrorist's 'attack on prison guards' using 'oil and makeshift weapons'

Sumy

Russian strikes on Ukraine border town 'cross any line of decency', US says, after over 30 killed including children

Kaliyah Coa, 11, was reportedly down at the water when she was 'swept away'

Body found in search for 11-year-old girl who went missing in the Thames