Defending champions France defeated England 2-1 in the quarterfinals as Harry Kane missed a last-second penalty kick to put an end to England’s World Cup hopes.
Theo Hernandez carelessly bumped into Mason Mount after Olivier Giroud’s header, giving the England captain a golden opportunity to equalize for a second time. The captain had already scored from 12 yards earlier in the game to tie the score after Aurelien Tchouameni’s thunderbolt had given France the lead.
With his first penalty, Kane tied Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for England and became the player with the most penalties scored in normal time at World Cups.
However, he missed his second penalty kick far over the bar with six minutes left to play under intense pressure. Kane appeared dejected. He was inconsolable at the final siren since there was no turning back.
England was frustrated by decisions made by the officials throughout this thrilling match, with a challenge on Bukayo Saka not given as a foul in the build-up to the opener and a penalty shout from Kane ignored in the first half. Referee Wilton Sampaio initially missed the foul on Mount before VAR advised him to check the pitchside monitor.
Jude Bellingham, England’s youngest starter in a quarterfinal at age 19, Saka, 21, and Phil Foden, 22, all stood out as Gareth Southgate’s team battled France. At 1-1, Marcus Rashford floated a last-ditch free kick onto the roof of the net after Harry Maguire had hit the post with a header.
But in the end, a penalty gave England World Cup heartbreak once more.