France overcame a fierce England attack in their World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday as midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and veteran striker Olivier Giroud scored in a 2-1 victory. England captain Harry Kane equalised on a penalty after Les Bleus’ first goal but missed a second spot-kick. France now move into the semi-finals to face Morocco. Read our live blog for all the action that took place during the match.
When France struck in this close match, they did it in classic Les Bleus style: By weaving their opponents’ side of the field into a ribbon before Tchouaméni blasted home, and later sending a precise long ball into the box for Giroud to hammer into the net. The 61 minutes in between featured far less inspired offence, and a defence that allowed England forward Bukayo Saka to frequently handle the ball near the box.
The story for England will forever centre on their veteran striker Harry Kane, who missed a penalty shot that would have equalised with about eight minutes left in regular time. Kane had notched The Three Lions’ first goal on a penalty early in the second half. But fans will also remember how often he and his teammates, including younger players Saka and Phil Foden, created chances near France’s goal.
>> Read a full recap of the World Cup quarter-final clash here.
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