In what was an action-packed, back-and-forth clash between European giants, England failed to match or improve upon their efforts from four years ago in Russia and have crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the hands of current World Cup holders France after Les Bleus fought to a 2-1 win and a date with Morocco in the semi-final.
Goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud on either side of the half-time interval were enough to push Didier Deschamps’ men into the last four of the competition at the expense of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions, who can leave Al Bayt Stadium with their heads held high after a credible performance that arguably deserved more.
But there was one bright spot on the night for national team star Harry Kane after the Tottenham man continues to write his England legacy into the history books when he drew level with Wayne Rooney on top of England’s all-time goalscoring chart.
53 – Harry Kane has scored his 53rd goal for England, equalling Wayne Rooney as the joint-highest scorer for the England men’s side. Leveller. pic.twitter.com/lsj2GdEk2K
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Kane slammed home a penalty in typical fashion in the 54th minute to pull England back level after Tchouaméni had brought Bukayo Saka down in the box to earn him his 53rd goal at the head of his country’s efforts on a football pitch. His effort from the spot also saw him score his fourth penalty at a World Cup, more than any other player in tournament history.
But Kane, and England, would end up frustrated come full-time after the Tottenham hitman missed a second penalty that would have once again pulled England back level at 2-2 only for the gifted goalscorer to blaze his second effort from the spot well over Hugo Lloris’ bar.
Though now out of contention in Qatar, Kane will still have every opportunity to not only eclipse Rooney but considerably surpass the former striker and set a new goalscoring benchmark that will be far more difficult to match.
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