In the end it just wasn't to be for Harry Kane and England in their World Cup quest. As is usually the case when it comes down to a major tournament, a penalty proved decisive to the Three Lions' hopes.
Trailing 2-1 against France in their World Cup quarter-final in Qatar, Gareth Southgate's men were handed a glorious opportunity to level things up in the 85th minute with referee Wilton Sampaio pointing to the penalty spot after going over to check his monitor. Giving Kane the chance to net his second penalty of the contest after emphatically beating club teammate Hugo Lloris with his first effort 30 minutes earlier, the Tottenham man again went for power but this time his attempt sailed high over the crossbar.
There was to be no way back into the game for England after that, with France progressing and setting up a semi-final clash with Morocco on Wednesday evening. Kane dropped to his haunches at the full-time whistle and looked shattered beyond belief.
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His England teammates tried their best to pick him up and console him, and there was even a moment when Lloris came over to give him a hug and a kiss as he saw the incredible pain his Tottenham teammate and good friend was going through. Unlikely to have got a lot of sleep on Saturday night with the moment playing through his head time and time again, unfortunately it is a moment that will never, ever escape him and will continue to haunt him for the rest of his life.
While everyone is wiser after the event and some even suggested Kane should not have taken the second penalty given how well Lloris knows him, the truth is that he was the best man for the job. That was there for all to see in the 54th minute as the ball arrowed into the back of the net as he converted his first penalty in style.
The confidence will certainly have been there after his goal and every single England fan would have undoubtedly picked England's joint-record goalscorer as the player to step up and take the next effort, especially after what he did earlier in the half and his brilliant penalty record on the whole. Kane would never have given that penalty up to anyone and a huge amount of questions would have been asked if he had stepped aside and someone else missed at such a pivotal moment.
Now it's about how Kane reacts to the almightiest of setbacks over the coming weeks and months. The Tottenham man has an incredible mentality and never hides, which is only going to help him respond positively and try put his penalty miss to the back of his mind.
Taking to social media on Sunday morning, Kane outlined that "now it’s about using the experience to be mentally and physically stronger for the next challenge". Brentford away is first up for Kane following his return from Qatar and the best way of bouncing back is the player doing what he does best and that is scoring goals.
That is what Antonio Conte and Tottenham need from their main man over the festive period and beyond as they look to seal another top-four spot come May. Netting 12 goals from his first 15 Premier League appearances this season, Kane will be more intent than ever to get back on the goal trail once again and that will only benefit Tottenham going forward.
The 29-year-old's mentality sets him apart from others and that is why many will be very confident that he responds positively to this crushing setback and makes Brentford pay as a result.
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