Goals from Aurélien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud in either side of a Harry Kane penalty sends Didier Deschamps and his minions through to the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup.
For the second edition running, defending Champions, France look very determined to defend the title they only won for a second time four and a half years ago in Russia.
In a clash predicted to be very even in all respect, they took an early lead through Aurélien Tchouameni, who scored his first ever FIFA World Cup goal with an absolute rocket from yards out with only 17 minutes played.
France took the 1-0 lead to the half time breal albeit it was an evenly contested half. However, the signs were not looking good for England at that point, because they had never won a FIFA World Cup game when behind at the break.
They’ve drawn two and lost six of the eight games of such circumstance while France on the other hand had never lost a game when leading at the break, recording 24 wins and a draw in 25 games.
However, England did leveled matters six minutes before the hour mark from a Harry Kane penalty following a foul on their Knight in shining armor in Qatar, Bukayo Saka by France’s Goalscorer, Tchouameni.
Kane converted for a goal which moved him level with Wayne Rooney as England’s all-time leading Goalscorer with 53 goals, despite playing 40 games less.
France restored their lead 12 minutes from time. Antoine Griezmann’s corner was cleared back to the Atletico Madrid man, who sent back another cross met with the header of Olivier Giroud, beating Jordan Pickford to his near post.
Just four minutes after France retake the lead, England were awarded a second penalty of the night after a Theo Hernandez’s push on Mason Mount, but Harry Kane could not convert this time as he blazed his effort high over the bar.
France held on to a famous win and will now meet Morocco in the semi final. Morocco haven’t concede a goal from an opposing player in this tournament and having kept clean sheets against Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, France have a big job to do.
Didier Deschamps and his minions will now be dreaming of the possibility of actually defend the World Cup title, which will see them become only the third nation to do so after Italy and Brazil.
On Wednesday, they will meet Morocco, the first ever African side to reach the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup for a place in the final.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
