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The Three Lions saw their adventure in Qatar cut short by defending champions France. Despite the 2-1 defeat in the quarter-final, Jamie Carragher claims this side is only second to the 1966 World Cup winning squad.
Mason Mount was brought down in the area and a VAR interference gave them the chance to equalize. It would not be the case and Harry Kane will forever rue his missed penalty in the 84th minute.
For a side that lost all six of their competitive fixtures prior to the quadrennial footballing extravaganza, a quarter-final exit would have been an overachievement. But England bowed out at the semi-final stage four years earlier and only last year were the beaten finalists at the European Championship.
Expectations were high from Gareth Southgate and his band. They came second to France in a meeting where they were the more dominant side. Referee decisions aside, the Three Lions created more potent chances but were unable to capitalize on them.
There is a belief in footballing circles that England would have gone on to become world champions had they defeated France. A meeting with Morocco could have been negotiated and given their scoring prowess, they would have entered the final as favourites. Brazil are already out and only one of Argentina or Croatia would have tested their resolve.
In a league of their own
This one will be painful for a very long time. The better team on the night went out, that’s football sometimes. Regardless, I’m so proud of the effort, fight and performance from my teammates over the course of the whole tournament. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/6wBELwgItv
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) December 11, 2022
After the knockout, Jamie Carragher was full of praise for England’s effort at the World Cup. Rejecting comparisons with England sides of yesteryears, teams that continue to occupy the imaginations of the Three Lions faithful.
The Liverpool man does not believe Kane and company should be categorized as gallant losers like those of the past in Italia ‘90 or Euro ‘96. The current side has been more consistent in tournament competition and stands tall above them.
“There will be a natural temptation… to place Gareth Southgate’s side alongside those of Bobby Robson’s in Italia ’90 and Terry Venables in Euro ‘96 as gallant losers,” Carragher told The Telegraph.
“Let’s have none of that. The biggest compliment I can pay Southgate’s side is that they do not belong with such company.
“This England team was no underdog going toe-to-toe with the world champions.
“This England team leaves the tournament having played better than any side in Qatar over their five games, a genuine contender that could and arguably should have gone all the way.’
Kane’s penalty was decisive
France were the favourites to progress in this quarter-final meeting despite scoring fewer goals and conceding more. The Three Lions’ maligned defence entered the fixture on the back of three successive clean sheets and were the leading goalscorers in Qatar.
They were not underdogs in the quarter-final and matched their rivals in the bout. In the end, it was decided on minute details. Moments of magic by Touchemeni and Griezmann concluded the affair in favour of Les Beus.
The ex-Liverpool defender said that on reflection, there were several things that dictated Saturday’s result, which could easily have changed the outcome.
“France won on the night because of moments – a stunning goal from distance and a cross from Antoine Griezmann that would have troubled any defence in the world,” Carragher added.
“Then England missed a penalty, knowing that had Harry Kane equalised for a second time it would have carried positive momentum into extra time.”
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