It was the prerogative of Al Bayt Stadium to host the first-ever men’s World Cup knockout encounter between England and France but the prevailing feeling was that for an encounter of such magnitude, it was happening too early.
The whims and wishes of the draw are perhaps decided by the footballing gods, but all is not fated, and it was Didier Deschamps’ France who seized the tie to shape their destiny, as they defeated the Three Lions 2-1, albeit marred by some controversial refereeing decisions.
Aurélien Tchouaméni made the first move with his resounding strike from distance in the 17th minute. But the French advantage was cancelled by Harry Kane’s 54th-minute penalty, before Olivier Giroud reinstated it by finishing off Antoine Griezmann’s delightful cross in the 78th minute.
Kane was given another chance to equalise from the spot and become his country’s leading male goalscorer but the English captain skied his attempt in the 83rd minute.
When the rapid French break, it stays a rapid break
England had started strongly but they didn’t make merry for long as Les Bleus quickly reclaimed the steering wheel.
Soon enough, Ousmane Dembélé and Griezmann, enjoying the chemistry of best friends, started to vibe and combine on the right flank while breaking, with the latter being the mastermind and the former eventually sending in two delightful crosses for Giroud, although nothing became of it.
Moments later, Dayot Upamecano, just outside his box, tore into Bukayo Saka, which many thought was a foul, but France’s number 18 didn’t and with him, France were motoring, yet again. The Bayern Munich defender progressed the ball leftwards to Kylian Mbappé, who leaving Declan Rice on the floor, slipped in-field and found Dembélé.
The move seemed to slow down with the ball recycled to Tchouaméni, but he woke up everyone who was starting to think that the danger was averted when he clubbed one from 25 yards out into the corner of Jordan Pickford’s goal.
Slow and steady, England comeback
When it was said earlier that Tchouaméni’s thunderstrike woke England up, it was also meant quite literally because after going down the Three Lions began brewing the tea and their influence on the game increased, offensively and defensively.
Primarily roused by the nifty feet and agility of Saka, the English had tested Hugo Lloris thrice by minute 30, with two shots coming from his club teammate Kane.
The Three Lions, on the back of numerous…
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