AL KHOR – France’s top scorer Olivier Giroud netted the winner in the 2-1 triumph over England yesterday and led the defending champions into the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar after Harry Kane missed a crucial penalty.
They will now face tournament sensation Morocco, who defeated Portugal 1-0 earlier, the German Press Agency, dpa reported.
The French side broke the deadlock in the 17th as Antoine Griezmann teed up for Aurelien Tchouameni to fire a shot from outside the box and into the bottom corner.
But there was not much to see from France during the rest of the first half and the Englishmen returned from the break as the better team. Their pressing was rewarded with a penalty after Bukayo Saka was brought down inside the box.
Captain Kane fired a furious strike from the spot to level the game in the 54th and net his 53rd goal for England, equalling Wayne Rooney as the joint-highest scorer for the Three Lions.
Harry Maguire could have put England ahead in the 70th but narrowly missed the target. On the other side of the pitch, Giroud also missed from close range in the 77th, but didn’t waste the next chance and headed into the net a cross from Griezmann just a minute later.
Kane had the chance of taking the game to extra time as England were awarded another penalty, but this time the captain sent the ball well over the crossbar.
A last-minute free-kick gave England a final beacon of hope but Marcus Rashford’s effort beat the top corner of the net by a few centimetres. – Bernama, December 11, 2022
