France have beaten England 2-1 in a fast-paced game to set up a semi-final World Cup clash with Morocco, who sensationally beat Portugal in the other World Cup quarter-final of the day.
\nAurelien Tchouameni put France ahead with a blistering long-range shot in the 17th minute at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday. England fans were left particularly aggrieved after calls for two suspected fouls against Bukayo Saka were dismissed in the seconds before the defending world champions opened the scoring.
\nIt was a largely equally matched first half, but England began the second with renewed vigour. Saka was again brought down shortly after kickoff, but this time it was inside the French box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
\nCaptain Harry Kane blasted the penalty kick into the net past his Tottenham Hotspurs\u2019s teammate Hugo Lloris to equalise in the 54th minute in front of a 68,895-strong crowd. It was a goal which left him equal with Wayne Rooney as the joint-highest scorer for the Three Lions.
\nThere was a chance for Gareth Southgate\u2019s men to go ahead in the 70th minute, but Harry Maguire missed the target, putting the ball into the side of the net.
\nIn the 76th, Olivier Giroud found a huge gap in the English defence and levelled a massive left-foot volley. It was caught safely by Pickford, but England were not off the hook for long.
\nAnother minute, another cross, another chance for Giroud, and France\u2019s leading goalscorer headed home to give France the lead, sending Les Bleus fans inside the stadium into ecstasy.
\nEngland had a golden chance to equalise in the 84th minute after Theo Hernandez barged into Mason Mount inside the box, but Kane this time skied his penalty attempt into orbit.
\nIn the end, the French press was too strong for the Three Lions to stomach, and France go on to play Morocco in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium.
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