Qatar 2022: France advance to semi-finals as Kane loses crucial penalty

France are on course to become the second team after Brazil to successfully defend their World Cup title.

The Blues fought back to a 2-1 win over England on Saturday to secure a semi-final date with Morocco's giant killers.

Aurélien Tchouameni opened the scoring for France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a low shot that passed Jordan Pickford.

Although the French held on to their lead in the first half, they were overtaken when Bukayo Saka won a penalty for the Three Lions and was converted by Harry Kane who became the all-time leading goalscorer for England with Wayne Rooney.

France regained the lead, however, when their deadly striker and all-time top scorer, Olivier Giroud, headed the ball in to make it 2-1.

England were given a lifeline when they were lucky enough to equalize from the penalty spot after Mason Mount was bundled up in the Blues box.

Even though Kane scored from the same spot earlier in the game, he succumbed to the pressure and launched his effort over Hugo Lloris's crossbar.

That miss proved costly as Gareth Southgate's men failed to find their way back into the game.

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