The France National Football Team has been on a roll throughout the FIFA 2022 world cup, having won all their matches leading up to the quarter finals, except one defeat against Japan. Having won the 2018 world cup, and entering Qatar as defending champions, France faced off against England in the quarter finals at the Al Bayt Stadium. The match ultimately saw the reigning champs emerge victorious in a thrilling contest to inch one step closer to defending their title. France will now be up against Morocco in the semifinals.
Both teams entered the match with the odds almost equally weighted, with France having the champions advantage, and sealed a 2-1 win in a thrilling contest. France took the early lead after Aurelien Tchouameni scored the opener in the 17th-minute with a long-range shot. England did manage to get the equalizer in the 54th-minute after Harry Kane converted a penalty. The momentum of the match kept swinging to and fro until Oliver Giroud scored the decisive winning goal for France in the 78th-minute.
France had the better possession for much of the first half, and took an early lead through a belter of a strike from Tchouameni from 25 yards. England managed to fight back in the second half with intensity and incisiveness, winning a penalty in the 54th minute, with Captain Kane converting it to level the score. The match remained quite competitive up until Anotine Griezmann created a crucial assist in the 78th minute, sending a cross into the British box where Olivier Giroud was present to rise up and send in a brilliant header past Pickford into the goal. A crucial lead for the defending champs!
Both teams kept things tight and fought till the death. England desperately looking for the equalizer and France trying hard not to allow the same. Opportunity knocked on England’s door when Theo Hernandez pushed down Mason Mount in the box in a moment of desperation and madness, giving away a crucial penalty to England. Captain Kane stepped up to take the shot, hoping to level the score once again, but this time he shockingly sent the ball over the crossbar, squandering a golden opportunity. This is a miss that will haunt him for quite some time!
10 minutes of stoppage time was added to the play and the English team could be seen maintaining the majority of the ball possession, seeking every opportunity to bring the scores to level. They pushed hard to get the equalizer as all France needed to was to defend the score, which they successfully did as the referee blew the final whistle, dashing all English hopes of winning the World cup this time. The defending champions are through to their second straight semifinal!
With the quarter finals wrapped up, there will be a couple of days before the real action resumes as Argentina takes on Croatia in the first semifinal on 14th December, followed by the second semi final between France and Morocco on 15th December. With both the 2018 world champions and the 2018 runners-up in the running for a spot in the final, could we see a repeat of the 2018 final this time. Only time will tell!
So do make sure to join us for the semifinal action and the grand finale. Keep checking 90agency for updates as we cover every aspect of these exciting controversies, news, and events from the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022!