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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Smith

Manchester United and Erik ten Hag might have just had the triple boost they needed most

Of the 15 Manchester United players that travelled to Qatar for the World Cup, just two of them remain.

England's heartbreaking quarter-final exit at the hands of France on Saturday evening meant that Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford joined the likes of Tyrell Malacia and Antony in packing their bags ready for home. Harry Kane, after earlier scoring from the spot, missed a penalty with just six minutes of normal time left on the clock to make it 2-2 and almost certainly send the contest to extra time.

But as has so often been the case for England at major tournaments, albeit not in a shoot-out on this occasion, it was a lack of composure from 12 yards that brought another dream to an end. The Three Lions, however, will return home with their heads held high; they pushed France every step of the way and would have come out on top on another day.

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