UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
England players felt that they could take on the world before the World Cup, and they weren’t wrong. They are talented, playing offensively, to the fans attractive football. However, they failed a team that is a current world champion, and now became a record holder for something nobody wanted to achieve.
England became the first team in history to lose seven World Cup quarterfinals matches. This time around the young English team lost a round earlier than four years ago, but also played a good match against a top team that was lacking some of their most important players throughout the tournament.
But, France found its niche as the tournament progressed. Nobody was in panic mode when they lost to Tunisia in their final group game, because they knew they are well positioned. They took care of business against Poland in the last 16 and were ready for what is coming against England.
To be fair, England’s defenders did a fine job on Kylian Mbappe who looked out of place most of the game but then was killed by the veteran Olivier Giroud. There were defensive mistakes visible in parts of the game, and on two of those occasions, France scored goals. The first one was a beautiful strike by Aurelien Tchouameni who was left with too much space to take the ultimate strike.
England leveled through Harry Kane’s penalty, but the Tottenham striker then missed another one in the latter part of the match that eventually cost England a chance in the extra time.
England’s first quarterfinal loss
The first of seven quarterfinals losses England suffered happened in 1954, and then again in 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002, and 2006 before it happened again this year. These stats mean that England participated in 16 World Cups losing at the quarterfinal stage on seven occasions.
It is a strange circumstance for England because once upon a time it seemed they were losing only on penalties in virtually every tournament, but that changed in recent times.
There are still a lot of positives to take from this World Cup even though the English media wasn’t going to be satisfied with anything but a final win. That, however, wasn’t meant to be this time around.
Harry Kane will have the hardest time accepting the loss after he sent the penalty high above the goalpost, looking like an American football kicker in the process. There will be time to reflect on Kane who will still look to play for England in the future as he is only 29 years old. But, the next World Cup is in four years, and it will be difficult to forsee whether Kane will be available at that time.
The English will also reflect on the Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio who made a host of controversial decisions, even though he did give England a couple of penalties. But, his overall performance won’t be given a high grade.
France, on the other hand, will play in the semifinal once again, trying to defend their crown as the World champion. They will face Morocco in the second semifinal on Wednesday. A day earlier Croatia will play Lionel Messi and Argentina.
If both Croatia and France win their ties, it will be the first time since 1990 that we would see a repeat of the Final from the last World Cup.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!