📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
France kept hopes of a pair of World Cup titles on the spin alive and well on Saturday night, courtesy of a hard-fought downing of England.
The final fixture of the World Cup’s quarter-final round, of course, was played to completion a short time ago.
After all of Argentina, Croatia and Morocco booked their respective spots in the competition’s final-4, it was the turn of England and France to lock horns, in a highly-anticipated showdown in Al Khor.
The evening’s scoring was opened inside 20 minutes, upon Aurelien Tchouameni driving a stunning effort from 25 yards beyond the clutches of Jordan Pickford:
Advantage France 🇫🇷
A stunning strike from Aurélien Tchouaméni to give France the lead against England#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/v1tkF6Z2eD
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 10, 2022
England, though, on the back of a prolonged spell of pressure, were rewarded for their efforts early in the 2nd-half, when Harry Kane lashed home a fine spot-kick:
Harry Kane levels it from the spot!!! 🙌🏴
The Spurs striker is now equal with Wayne Rooney on 53 goals for England!! 😏#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZtAlsF0UzS
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 10, 2022
France’s advantage was then restored by all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud, who nodded home a trademark header, with a little help from Harry Maguire, inside the closing quarter of an hour.
And, just minutes on from Giroud notching what proved to be the game’s winner, the Three Lions had not only a final chance to equalise once more, but a golden one at that.
After substitute Mason Mount was needlessly felled by Theo Hernandez in the French penalty area, Harry Kane was afforded the chance to double his tally for the evening.
In frankly remarkable scenes, however, Kane, on this occasion, failed to step up to the plate, blasting his ensuing effort some way clear of Hugo Lloris’ crossbar:
Another chance to equalise and this time Kane isn’t so lucky!
The England skipper sends the ball over the bar and it looks like their chances are on the brink… 😬#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uO01lfF1im
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 10, 2022
France, in turn, march on to the Qatar showpiece, with England, on the other hand, forced to depart world football’s grandest stage with thoughts of what might have been front and centre once more.
Player ratings
England
- Jordan Pickford – 6
- Kyle Walker – 6
- John Stones – 6
- Harry Maguire – 6.5
- Luke Shaw – 5.5
- Declan Rice – 7
- Jordan Henderson – 6.5
- Jude Bellingham – 7
- Bukayo Saka – 7.5
- Phil Foden – 6.5
- Harry Kane – 6
Substitutes: Raheem Sterling – 5, Mason Mount – 6, Marcus Rashford – N/A, Jack Grealish – N/A
France
- Hugo Lloris – 7
- Jules Kounde – 7
- Raphael Varane – 6.5
- Dayot Upamecano – 6
- Theo Hernandez – 4.5
- Aurelien Tchouameni – 7
- Adrien Rabiot – 7
- Antoine Griezmann – 8
- Ousmane Dembele – 6.5
- Kylian Mbappe – 6
- Olivier Giroud – 7
Substitutes: Kingsley Coman – 5
Key stats
Aurelien Tchouameni’s first half by numbers vs. England:
91% pass accuracy
1/1 aerial duel won
1/1 ground duel won
1 shot
1 goalThe difference so far. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xApB0RBoeS
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
Bukayo Saka’s first half by numbers vs. France:
28 touches
6 ground duels won
3 tackles won
1/1 cross completed
1 key pass
1 big chance created
1 dribble completedBeen England’s outlet so far. 👀 pic.twitter.com/wYEfyjHYxC
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
Antoine Griezmann completed all but one of his first-half passes, including 7 of 7 in the final third with the assist on Aurélien Tchouaméni’s goal.#FIFAWorldCup #ENG #FRA pic.twitter.com/K2qkaPBmEa
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane has now scored 53 goals for England. He has equalled Wayne Rooney’s record as England’s all time top goal scorers.
Big goal. 👏 pic.twitter.com/eeit0FVsgj
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
Bukayo Saka’s game by numbers vs France:
42 touches
8 duels won (most)
4 ball recoveries
4 touches in opp. box
4 fouls won (most)
3 tackles won
2 chances created
1 take on completed
1 shotWas England’s live wire. ⚡️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/HjVkn9nGW9
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 10, 2022
7 – This is the seventh time England have been eliminated from the quarter-final stages of the World Cup, more than any other side in the history of the competition. Heartbreak. pic.twitter.com/T8na9NtD6T
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
England have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the seventh time in their history.
No team has been eliminated more often at this stage.
For the first time since 1990, the defending World Cup champions and runners-up advance to the semi-finals of the #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dRkwpcxj7F
— Spreadex Sports (@SpreadexSport) December 10, 2022
Antoine Griezmann’s game by numbers vs. England:
100% tackles won
100% aerial duels won
88% pass accuracy
58 touches
38 passes completed
3/3 long balls completed
2 key passes
2 assistsMagical. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/ozgVVjkyMF
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 10, 2022
Dayot Upamecano did not commit a foul in the entire game against England. 🧐#ENGFRA #FIFAWorldCup https://t.co/0oaIKiKjt4
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 10, 2022
⚽️ Top scorers at the 2022 #FIFAWorldCup
🥇 Kylian Mbappe – 5
🥈 Lionel Messi / Oliver Giroud – 4🇫🇷 France are back in front!
🏴 England 1-2 France 🇫🇷#Qatar2022
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 10, 2022
4 – No player has scored more penalties in World Cup history than Harry Kane, with tonight his fourth goal from the spot in the competition (exc. shootouts). Reliable. pic.twitter.com/qgpsl4Hrft
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
1 – France are the first reigning champion to reach the World Cup semi-finals since Brazil in 1998. Samba. #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/hOxxRK50dw
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 10, 2022
Social media & fan reaction
Don’t care if France are better than England (they haven’t been). The referee deciding the game is ridiculous at this level with VAR being available.
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) December 10, 2022
The referee when England gets obviously fouled #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/L1TbEQE66a
— Gabby (@gabbytweets20) December 10, 2022
Yes, the referee didn’t even give a foul for this pic.twitter.com/CiddbtWnmT
— Has the Referee or VAR made a poor decision? (@PoorEPLreferees) December 10, 2022
How many goals have England conceded?
One Tchouameni.
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) December 10, 2022
Keeemmommmm Harry 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 boommmmmmm #ENGFRA
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) December 10, 2022
Mbappe when Kane missed his penalty… #ENG | #FRA | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/O4QlmJ3AU2
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 10, 2022
HARRY KANE REALLY HIT IT OVER THE BAR 😱 pic.twitter.com/fVvnM3vDin
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 10, 2022
It just shows that you can take the man out of Tottenham, but you can’t take the Tottenham out of the man.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 10, 2022
Gg, well played France.
— ksi (@KSI) December 10, 2022
Scratching my head. Walker, Saka, Bellingham, Henderson were all terrific. How did England lose that? No consolation to play well and lose. Not at this level. Probably not at any level. Pain.
— Lee Clayton (@LeeClayton_) December 10, 2022
Southgate was there to console Harry Kane 💔🏴 pic.twitter.com/JRBv14BYBY
— LiveScore (@livescore) December 10, 2022
Heartbreaking once again, but no shame in losing to an excellent French team and congratulations to them. There was so little to choose between the two sides. This fine young @England team gave their all and will only get better. Their time will come.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 10, 2022
Didier Deschamps incredibly emotional, excitable, hugging all the players, but the tone changed markedly when he came to Théo Hernandez, who is dressed down on the pitch, even if both are still somewhat smiling.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 10, 2022
Saka this tournament has been brilliant. Bounced back so well from the euros. Real gem of a footballer
— Conn (@ConnCFC) December 10, 2022
Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, England get knocked out by the first decent team they play. #FifaWorldCup
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 10, 2022
Well played #Eng and well done Gareth Southgate again. We are a top team, beaten by champions. Fine margins. Lacked swagger to kill the game. No bitter twisted inquest please. Support Harry Kane, the future remains bright.
— Simon Bird (@SimonBird_) December 10, 2022
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