Reigning champions, France have ended England’s hope of winning the 2022 World Cup after defeating the Three Lions 2-1 in the quarter finals on Saturday.
The match between two European powerhouses was billed to be the tie of the quarter-finals and it did not disappoint.
France took the lead in controversial fashion in the 17th minute.
Harry Kane equalised the score after the break with a penalty kick. Olivier Giroud then scored a late goal to put France back in control.
Harry Kane missed a second penalty kick, booting the ball well over the bar.
France will face Morocco in Wednesday’s second semifinal. The winner of that will meet the Croatia-Argentina winner in the World Cup final on Dec. 18.
1 Comment
The French game was a display of flexible tactics. The French deservedly went ahead in the 17th minute and decided they would defend their lead and allow England much of the possession. England did not translate this possession into actual scoring opportunities. Despite Harry Kane’s reputation these days he is more a false 9 than an actual center-forward.
England had identified Mbappe as being a major threat, but France also knew Mbappe would be targetted so tactically they shifted the focus of their team play away from Mbappe and Dembele to Griezmann in the center of midfield. This French victory was orchestrated from midfield with Mbappe quiet from the attention of Walker.
England actually played with 4 midfielders, Foden, Rice, Bellingham, and Henderson, i.e. two attacking and two defending midfielders. France played with three, Griezmann, Tchoumeni, and Rabiot,i.e. one attacking and two defending midfielders.
The tactical lesson was how France anticipated England and adapted. They did not like Nigeria – with Moses Simon, keep passing the ball to Mbappe on the left wing hoping for a breakthrough. France realized that Mbappe would take the attention of at least two English players giving France more space in midfield, and they activated Griezemann to take advantage.
For all England’s possession, in my opinion mainly because they were chasing the game, England were always relying on fouls inside or near the penalty box to gain advantage.
The French played a defensive game, kept England out, and launched attacks and counter-attacks that secured them victory. England had moments but never truly decisive moments and Giroud’s finishing was more clinical.