And in the end, France wins! Reigning world champion, the formation of Didier Deschamps has, once once more, made its realism speak.
At the Al Bayt stadium, a marvel lost in the middle of the desert, the French beat England 2-1 to climb into the last four. They will face Morocco this Wednesday in a semi-final which will have both the flavor of a derby and a journey into the unknown.
The decision in this quarter-final which will have largely kept its promises fell in the 78th minute. Olivier Giroud popped up on a cross from Antoine Griezmann to head in the winning goal, his 53rd in selection.
Missed Penalty
Six minutes later, the English might have equalized a second time, once more on a penalty from Harry Kane. But on the moment of becoming the top scorer in the history of the ‘Three Lions’ with 54 goals, the captain sent his shot in the sky of Doha. He had been much more clinical in the 54th to convert the first penalty of the evening and thus respond to the opener of Aurélien Tchouaméni in the 17th.
Faithful companion for four years, luck remains the surest ally of Didier Deschamps. The missed penalty by Hary Kane may have saved France the throes of elimination on an evening when they were far from mastering their subject.
Laurels in verve
But fortunately for Didier Deschamps, Hugo Lloris was able to compensate for Kylian Mbappé’s lackluster performance. The Tottenham goalkeeper was the best man of the match the night he became the most capped French player in history with his 143 caps.
On the strength of this victory, Didier Deschamps is now the sole master of his future at the head of the France team. The same cannot be said for Gareth Southgate.
The fire of criticism
With this elimination, the English coach will once more be under fire from critics. As in 2018 during the World Cup in Russia and last year during the Euro, his team raised the wildest hopes in the kingdom, without however realizing them. To wonder if Gareth Southgate will forever be a magnificent loser.
/ATS
