At the stinging end of this enthralling World Cup quarter-final, England’s players lay slumped on the floor, hands covering their faces, their hopes and dreams shattered for another four years. All losses hurt. But few will linger as much as this quarter-final defeat to France.
For 90 minutes, England went toe-to-toe with the world champions. They were bold, they were inventive. And, at times, it seemed that all sorts of enticing possibilities were opening up after a Harry Kane penalty equalised Aurélien Tchouaméni’s early thunderbolt.
