World Cup quarter-final LIVE: England v France

by Arthur · December 10, 2022

World Cup quarter-final LIVE: England v France

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Table of Contents

Key posts

07.25

The moment England’s World Cup dream was revived

Harry Kane is such a clinical penalty taker, and perhaps the best in the world.

There were some mind games, as we have seen so often in this World Cup, before the penalty too. Kylian Mbappe took the time to go up to Huge Lloris to whisper something in his ear, but more to get into Kane’s head. It didn’t work and the England captain has now joined Wayne Rooney as the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.

What price would he pay to break that record and hold it in his own right this morning?

Harry Kane scores for England.Credit:Getty

07.21

Chances at both ends after Kane’s equaliser

Jordan Pickford is in disbelief with England’s defence, as Adrien Rabiot moments after Harry Kane’s equaliser, is given too much time and space to hit another long shot towards England’s goal. The keeper does well to push it to safety. It would be embarrassing for the Three Lions after working so hard to reach the level.

Now Bukayo Saka, who has almost looked like England’s most dangerous player, weaves his way into the French box and forces a difficult save out of Huge Lloris. This game really heats up.

Righto, which of the leaders will blink first and turn to their bench?

07.13

Kane scores for England

When the hour comes, the captain comes.

Harry Kane buries the ball past his Tottenham teammate Huge Lloris from 12 yards and England are tied. As for the balance of play, you can’t say they didn’t deserve something after their brilliant start to the second half.

Is there a more clinical penalty taker in world football? He sent Lloris the wrong way and hammered it into the left corner.

It is 1-1 after 53 minutes. What a game we’re building here.

Harry Kane celebrates bringing England level.Credit:Getty

07.12

Penalty to England

Here’s your chance.

Bukayo Saka has been hacked down in the box – and there can be no complaints from the French. If England were hard done by VAR ruling against a penalty in the first half, this is an easy decision for the referee. Saka cuts down the field and is tripped by goal scorer Aurelien Tchouameni.

Clear as day.

Go straight up, Harry Kane…

Bukayao Saka is brought down in the box.Credit:AP

07.11

Mbappe wins error on a quiet night

Kylian Mbappe has been on the quiet side so far this evening, with Jordan Henderson pleading with the referee after giving away a foul on the French megastar.

Henderson asks, “What’s that?” He holds his head in his hands as if he can’t quite believe what has happened, and claims he got the ball.

Guess what? The replays show that it was a clear error. Play on.

07.08

The second yellow card for France, Bellingham just rejected

The second half is barely a minute old, but we’ve already got another booking with Ousmane Dembele briefly for hacking down Jude Bellingham. Nasty challenge that.

Oh, and now Bellingham have had a scorching shot from outside the box just tipped over the crossbar by Huge Lloris. That’s about as close as England have come in this game. It’s a very bright start for Gareth Southgate’s side after the break.

07.06

Kick-off: Start of the second half

England with just 45 minutes to save the World Cup. No changes for either team at the break.

07.01

When will Southgate pull the trigger?

What does Gareth Southgate do at half-time?

Most observers would suggest he has a litany of attacking talent at his disposal on the bench, probably far more than France. Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Callum Wilson. Who does he use? And when does he use them?

This is set up for a brilliant second half and I can’t see England going more than 10 or 15 minutes after the break with no changes if it stays like this.

06.59

England on top everywhere – but where it matters

The story of the bond from the first half. England dominates in most areas, except where it counts…

06.51

Half time: France 1 England 0

There’s the whistle. The world champions are just 45 minutes away from another semi-final place as they lead England 1-0 at half-time at the Al Bayt Stadium thanks to a stunning strike from France’s Aurelien Tchouameni after just 17 minutes.

The Three Lions have looked much better since the goal which created a couple of decent chances through Harry Kane – and perhaps could have had a penalty on a VAR intervention – but have yet to turn the screws on the French, who have looked comfortable enough.

Antoine Griezmann has added a couple of stylish touches between the lines, but is it scary for England that Kylian Mbappe is yet to hit the ground running?

All to do for Gareth Southgate’s side in the second half.