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Usually, the penalty drama comes later than this. England are out and France march through to the semi-finals after Harry Kane’s late miss from the spot saw Les Bleus advance 2-1 at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar.
The ongoing psychodrama that England experience from 12 yards out has historically tended to come after 120 minutes, but the crucial failure here dropped in the 84th, after a VAR-induced penalty gave Kane the opportunity to strike back after Olivier Giroud’s powerful header had given France a second-half lead.
He blasted over the bar, and the 2-1 scoreline would last to the end. Earlier, he had been successful, equalising Aurelien Tchouameni’s excellent opener from range, but few will remember that now.
“Our performance deserved better,” said England manager Gareth Southgate. “Goals are decisive, but I’ve just said to the players, I don’t think they could have given any more. I think they played really well against a top team.
“There are fine margins, things at both ends that have ended up deciding the game, but the way the players have progressed as a group through this tournament has been fantastic. In most of the big moments we were in the right place. We had more shots on goal. But it’s a game of fine margins.”
Kane himself said that he would have to pick himself up after a devastating miss.
“A World Cup is every four years, it’s not like we have another opportunity next year,” he said. “It’s a long time to wait, but as I say, I’m proud of the boys. We had a great camp, a great World Cup but it came down to a small detail – one I’ll take responsibility for.
“I’m not worried about the team and how it will affect them. I know we’ve got some great talent. “I’m sure it will hurt, not just for me but for everyone involved. But that’s football, that’s sport, you have to take it on the chin sometimes.”
France coach Didier Deschamps was proud of the dig that his side showed to overcome a strong England.
“England have a very, very good team,” said the coach, who won as captain in 1998. “We put up a good fight. I regret we gave them a penalty and then gave them another penalty.
“Credit to my team, we showed some very good things and can still be dangerous. We also have great quality, impressive mental strength and great experience.
“England have young players, as well as experience, who play at the top teams. It was always going to come down to small details and luckily tonight it went our way.”
This was a game replete with narratives that went well beyond the simple drama of a World Cup quarter final.
France, for their part, become the first reigning champions to make the semis since Brazil in 1998. They now face Morocco and will be the heaviest of heavy favourites and look a good shot to be the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
“Few people expected to see Morocco in the semi-final,” said Deschamps. “They have surprised everyone and have deserved to be there. We very much respect our opponents and to get this far they have deserved it. No one can take that away from them. Let’s savour our victory tonight against a very good England team.”
The penalty face-off between Kane and Huge Lloris was the English captain versus his French counterpart, but also the Tottenham vice-captain taking against his club captain and great friend.
On top of that, had Kane scored, he would have overtaken Wayne Rooney as the highest goalscorer in the history of the national team, having already equalled the record earlier in the match.
The redemption of Giroud, cast aside twice by Premier League teams, was another powerful thread. His header was superb and worthy of winning any game.
The wider run of the game had seen the pair, two of the best at this tournament, fight to a standstill. England had nearly double the number of shots as France, but there was a feeling that such a game suited Didier Deschamps’ men perfectly. They are more than comfortable on the break.
Their star, Kylian Mbappe, had dominated the build-up, but did not dominate the game. Instead, Jude Bellingham, the great young hope of English football, and Antoine Griezmann were the best on ground.
England’s preoccupation with Mbappe was obvious early on, with right back Kyle Walker sticking to his man and being helped by teammates whenever the ball went near the PSG forward.
The first goal was perhaps a result of the over-compensation: Mbappe took the ball from his position on the left and dribbled inside, with a despairing tackle from Declan Rice unsuccessful though.
Though he ran out of space, the ball was recycled and the English defence never regained formation, allowing Tchouameni space from which he superbly picked out the bottom corner. There were claims that the ball had been initially won by a foul on Bukayo Saka, but England still allowed the ball to travel the length of the field and could have few complaints.
England responded well, finding their best spell of the match. Kane was denied low by Lloris, Luke Shaw had a free kick saved and, in the most controversial moment of the first half, Dayot Upamecano felled the England captain on the edge of the box. After a lengthy VAR check, nothing was forthcoming.
England could feel slightly aggrieved to be behind – they had perhaps enjoyed the better chances – and set about amending that after the break. Bellingham came close with a powerful shot over the bar, before their chance finally arrived via the referee.
There could be no doubt about this one: Saka was clearly fouled by Tchouameni and, from the spot, Kane finished comprehensively.
France nearly struck back immediately with Adrien Rabiot testing Jordan Pickford, but the better chances continued to fall for England. Harry Maguire should have scored from a free header, but nodded wide, and Saka had a superb chance that he put wide under pressure from Theo Hernandez.
Pickford then denied Giroud from a volley, but was powerless to stop his header after Griezmann put the ball on a plate for him. For Giroud, told that he was no longer suitable for the Premier League with both Chelsea and Arsenal, the catharsis was clear to see.
England were then gifted another massive opportunity. Mason Mount, on from the bench, was barged in the back by Hernandez with the ball well overhead in a seemingly innocuous situation. VAR, however, thought otherwise and ruled that the contact had been too severe. Kane, from the spot, fluffed his lines.
England threw attackers on the field in an attempt to influence proceedings. Raheem Sterling, back in Qatar after returning home to deal with a burglary in his house, proved threatening with several shimmies down the wing, but no clear chance followed.
As added time elapsed, Marcus Rashford was given a chance to repeat his free kick trick against Wales. He hit the roof of the net, and the game never restarted. France were through.