France beats England 2-1 to advance to semifinals

Hats off to les Bleus. Not a classic game but they got the goals needed. They'll go back-to-back now IMO. Giraud - supposedly "too old for PL"...got the job done here!

England were a little disappointing, was hoping theyd take it to ET. Nerves played a part you'd imagine, lots of youngsters. No goals in free play, just the pen. Feel for Kane, but that was such a poor penalty attempt. One imagines this was last chance saloon for Kane and Southgate to hoist that Cup. They likely won't be there in '26 - but their excellent youngsters like Saka and Bellingham etc will.

It's Coming Home! What does this mean actually? I asked British, he smiled only.

Is it because England invented? I wouldn't believe they are the one, they were just too advanced at that time to claim.

Anyway, England need real strikers! In few years they will have because many Asians are now becoming British citizen, so Asian will help England dream come true. And it will come home.

A nail-biter from the start, could have swung either way, at any time.

Both teams provided the football match, the excitement, this tournament constant hype and spin supposedly stands for.

England has no reason to feel robbed. France won on the day.

The England team had the opportunities, it wasn't to be, but they fought to the last minute.

Kane penalty was the stuff of many nightmares to come.

Raise a glass or five, well worth setting the alarm clock.

Gallant failure and what-might-have-beens. England can live with that. And the commentators can talk all about 1966 again in the next World Cup.

LOL it’s not coming home! Bye England.

BackpackingNepal.......might help

https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer

As early as 1843 an attempt to standardize and codify the rules of play was made at the University of Cambridge, whose students joined most public schools in 1848 in adopting these “Cambridge rules,” which were further spread by Cambridge graduates who formed football clubs.

"Coming home" is more a reflection on the past, plus codify the rules of play, may I also contend a hope that England will win again.

Sadly not this time.

Probably the most “boring” outcome I could’ve possibly imagined; a) England out, b) France wins, c) they’ll meet… Morocco, d) Argentina’s bullies still in the competition; after the anti-football horror show that Morocco provided to us and seeing one of the football greats going down the tunnel in tears, we could finally watch a “real” football game but England lost… and against France… and it felt like they could’ve done it. Morocco-France and Croatia-Argentina; I mean, seriously(?) smh

A all-around excellent performance by the French, who never fell behind.

It is easy to see why France was the favorite.

England couldn't score a goal against the US, and again couldn't score a goal during play today.

A well-deserved dominating win by France.

I remember after England defeated Iran in the first game all English supporters were claiming this would be easy for them. Also after Morocco won they expected an easy path to the final. I guess you can never get ahead of yourself like that.

It's going to be "tres chaud" on the streets of France next game.

Guaranteed riots no matter what the result.

Great and stressful match, both team were really good and a third star for French needs "only" two further steps...

Bien fait and well deserved to the talented French and adieu to the overmatched English.

That was a horrendous penalty miss from hapless Kane.

French will handle Morocco 3-0 next game and have a classic final with the fantastic Argentina team which the Albiceleste will win 2-1

Close game. France had a bit more quality than England. Winning by the odd goal wasn’t an unexpected result.

Felt for Kane. Good player and good pro. I very much doubt he’ll make the next World Cup. Already in decline.

France will take some stopping.

A few idiots are trying to blame political distractions and Southgate. Just morons reciting from a hymn sheet.

Sometimes you get beaten by a better side. Happens.

France outclassed England from start to finish.

The French players played as if they wanted the win. England played as if they wanted the game to come down to a shootout.

But the French showed more class, and never relented--even after the oft-flopping English got the gift of a goal out of free play.

Great point @ painkiller. In typical fashion, the Brits showed zero class again . Total pansies!

Every WC since 1966, England is always one of the favourites but you can safely put your money on them not winning. In fact since the last trophy, they have won nothing, not even European Championships which Greece and Denmark had done better. As one of the big boys, they must be the biggest choker! 56 years and counting...

"The Brits" - you do realize that the Brits comprise 3 teams - Scotland, England and Wales, and that there is a strong rivalry between them? (N. Ireland are not part of the island of Britain, although is part of the UK and also have their own national team).

I expected England to lose this, maybe more convincingly, but overall they had the most chances - as usual in a game like this it just comes down to to fine margins - in this game, the French managed to put their chances away. If they played tomorrow, it might have been the other way around.

As one of the big boys, they must be the biggest choker! 56 years and counting...

They have been terrible chokers! But I don't get that feeling with England under Southgate. They got to the Semi final last time with a pretty average set of players and lost against the better team on the day. They got to the final of the Euros and lost on PKs in the end, but Italy were probably the better team overall. This time they've gone out to the current champions that were favourites to beat England and probably one of the favourites to win the competition overall.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t like France, but I feel like they’re the only team that can beat Argentina (… can’t stand those people).

Every WC since 1966, England is always one of the favourites

Nope. They didn’t qualify in 74, 78 and 94. Hard to be a favourite if you’re not even playing.

Not a very good point you mate there, was it? Never mind. I don’t comment on sports I have very little knowledge of.

I don’t see the point.

I’m wondering how you are defining ‘favourites’ here? Odds from English bookies?

Anyway, a reasonable World Cup for England. Scored a few and went out to a top quality side. Some great young talent in Foden, Saka and in particular Bellingham who looks real quality. Unquestionably one if the top 10 sides in the world but not ‘top, top’.

6/10 overall.

England played very well. Hopefully this'll shut up all of those Chicken Littles out there who screamed about how the sky was falling.

"The Brits" - you do realize that the Brits comprise 3 teams - Scotland, England and Wales, and that there is a strong rivalry between them? (N. Ireland are not part of the island of Britain, although is part of the UK and also have their own national team).

It is quite comical to see a lack of basic knowledge of geography on top of a lack of basic knowledge of football.

While the latter is understandable, the former is a failure of education.

JimizoToday  12:00 pm JST

It is quite comical to see a lack of basic knowledge of geography on top of a lack of basic knowledge of football.

The English team were the only Brits still playing, so there was no lack of geographical or football knowledge on the part of the original commentator.

Unless you're saying English aren't Brits?

England played very well

They did okay. One thing I did like was the high number of goals scored which is something you don’t always associate with English teams at World Cups.

My non-English friends found them a good side to watch overall. Unusual that you get neutrals enjoying watching England.

A couple of my US coworkers commented on Saka. Cracking player. Positive, skillful and hardworking. Superb how he lifted himself after that penalty miss in the Euros. Great lad.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t like France, but I feel like they’re the only team that can beat Argentina (… can’t stand those people)

Oh, come on. May the best team win.

I generally dislike negative sides and France and Argentina aren’t negative sides. I used to dislike the negativity of the Italian sides in the past but they were a bit more positive in the last Euros and probably deserved to win it.

Unfortunately all the papers in England are blaming the umpire for the loss. I thought that guy who missed the kick from the free throw line has to take some of the blame.

Unfortunately all the papers in England are blaming the umpire for the loss. I thought that guy who missed the kick from the free throw line has to take some of the blame

I’ve read a few English papers and not come across that.

Very strange. Mustn’t be all of them.

Can you link to one?

England has no reason to feel robbed. France won on the day.

IMHO, England was the better team, they just didn't get that ball into the net often enough.

France wasn't any slouch either, as the win proves, but England had much more possession time (over 57%), more shots, more corners, and fewer fouls.

But England didn't put the ball into the net as often and that's what counts. Look at everything else, and England won the match.

Thought it was extremely close and that little bit of knowhow and quality from France just won it for them.

If Kane hadn't ballooned the second penalty over, I'd have fancied England.

Alot of anti English fans on here. How strange.

Exciting match. France deserved the win.

Sick as a parrot to see England going home but that’s the game.

That second penalty should never have been given. Sure he was brought down. But the ball was lifted way over his head and he would never have been in a goal scoring position. Karma that Kane missed.

I wonder what Beckham thought about that spot kick. Hahaha…

France was the better team on the day.

France played at a reasonably high caliber, but it looked like they can play even better if Mbappe catches fire in the next match.

The referees appeared to be fair to both teams.

France's goalie has been virtually untouchable.

I hope this France's peak year.

Unfortunately all the papers in England are blaming the umpire for the loss.

I’ve read a few English papers and not come across that. Very strange. Mustn’t be all of them. Can you link to one?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11524641/World-Cup-Brazilian-referee-Wilton-Sampaio-shocker-England-crash-France.html

Is that "all" the papers?

No, but it’s one.

The word on the street was that it was "all the papers".

Not a classic game 

Actually, probably the best game of the knockout stage in terms of a contest. Unless you like it dragging on and on with very little action and going to penalties.

England were unlucky. South American refs are known to be lax, and let's just say France took more advantage of that than England did. For Kane and the penalty, it's his team-mate in goal, he's already taken one and revealed part of his approach, it's the game on the line, and if he scores, he personally becomes England's top scorer. A meaningless penalty in another game and I think he gets in on target. This penalty in this situation in this game just had too much riding on it.

The entire England strategy is based on running into the box, falling and rolling around to trick ref into giving penalty. Kane, Saka, Sterling are master divers, maybe Olympic diving would be a better sport for them.

England was the better team, they just didn't get that ball into the net often enough.

I admit I'm not much up on the intricacies of the beautiful game, but isn't the better team by definition the team that gets the ball into the net more often?

The entire England strategy is based on running into the box, falling and rolling around to trick ref into giving penalty

The entire strategy, eh?

Even when they haven’t got the ball they dive in the box while the other side are attacking?

You didn’t think this one through, did you?

JimizoToday  02:36 pm

Nice try with the straw man argument, but thanks for agreeing with the central thesis!

Nice try with the straw man argument, but thanks for agreeing with the central thesis!

I didn’t agree with the ‘central thesis’.

The idea that a team’s ‘entire strategy’ is get men into the box and dive can only have come from someone who has:

a) Never played football at any level

b) Never really watched it

c) Never thought about the tactics of the game let alone understood them.

I could go on here.

Your ‘central thesis’ was nonsensical, peevish, childish and had no redeeming features whatsoever.

How could I or anyone with any understanding of the game possible agree with it?

It was a great game. I think the best of the world cup so far.

Both teams played well and it could have gone either way. England probably had the better of possession, but couldn't quite convert. They also did a good job of keeping Mbappe out of the game. Pickford had to make quite a few saves and France were unlucky but to score another.

I can see quite a few England bashers in the comments who clearly didn't watch the match and who don't have a clue what they're taking about.

cleo

the better team does not always win. A flunk goal near the end of play for instance. There are many games where the better team, even on the day ends up losing.

On this occasion, France only had 48% possession of the ball but they were the better team and won. Though England nearly scored two or three times and missed a penalty.

The game is about scoring goals but it is also about more than that.

The game is played end-to-end not just in the area of the goal.

Science, skill, and a measure of luck are needed to win.

Honestly, Thought it was a cracking game of Football, as dissapointed with the result as I am.... If anybody who has commented really thinks that England were playing for a draw was watching a recording of games from the past.

Being critical of the referee is unnecessary, he let both teams get away with fouls BUT let the game flow. Both were clear penalties, did anyone see any REAL protests from the French. The only referee who will come in for flack will be from the Dutch/Argentina game. As an English man (NOT a Brit when it comes to Football), hats off to Hugo Lloris, frankly superb.

A lot of anti English sentiment on here, fine, also a lot of comments from people who know nothing about Football.

Plus of course the obligatory 'comments' from @painkiller. Only he could possibly bring negativity and geography into this topic.

Hope we get to see a Argentina / France Final next Sunday night as a genuine fan of the Beautiful Game.

JimizoToday  02:36 pm JST

The entire England strategy is based on running into the box, falling and rolling around to trick ref into giving penalty

“ The entire strategy, eh?

Even when they haven’t got the ball they dive in the box while the other side are attacking? 

You didn’t think this one through, did you? “

Lmao; btw, he wanted England to lose on penalties w/ Argentina in the final. (that’s what you’re dealing with… ; probably an Argentinian troll)

A flunk goal near the end of play for instance

Is this specialist footy vocabulary?

flunk vb fail to reach the required standard (couldn't find any examples of the word used as an adjective)

If a goal fails to reach the required standard, doesn't that mean it's not allowed and the team with more goals up to that point, wins?

The game is about scoring goals but it is also about more than that.

I don't understand the more than that. Probably why I'm not a big footy fan, I'm not in on the secret.

The English media are a disgrace, their country doesn’t deserve to win anything.

Football is a spectator sport and we need to be entertained and the best teams achieve that.

The English media are a disgrace, their country doesn’t deserve to win anything

Large parts of it are. Someone lowered the tone earlier on in this thread by linking to the Daily Mail.

Still, I don’t see why a country having a disgraceful media is linked to the national footy team not deserving to win.

Sounds a bit like the sound of a rattle hitting the deck after flying out of a pram to me.

I’m guessing some others may have heard it too.

cleo

sorry, spelling mistake

fluke goal. When not expected from the play. A home goal for instance. A player scoring a goal against his own team.

There are many goals that are disallowed. Offside goals for instance. Penalty shots can only be a single kick. The whole ball not crossing the goal line.

The game is played end-to-end.

But at the end of the game, the team with the most goals wins. That is not always the best team. But there are also many draws but not in this knockout stage of the WC.

In the game of football, the club at the bottom of a division can win against the team at the top. Happens in many sports.

There is no secret but like all sports needed to be watched and studied to fully understand.

Science, skills of all those involved, and a degree of luck on the pitch.

3 lions and Les Bleus played attacking football. The two footballing giants kept their fans on their toes till the very end. Well played England and well played France.

Top-level footballers are guided by a very wide range of experts. Sports scientists and doctors. Dieticians. Coaches in their particular skills.

Required to follow diets and often eat at their clubs. Especially pre-matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player. He eats six times a day. Takes 5 90-minute naps. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner and renowned Juventus striker. Often eat breakfast. A mid-morning snack. Two lunches. Two dinners consisting of low-fat, high-protein foods. Lots of wholegrain carbs, fruit, and vegetables, and avoid sugary foods.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City is a young very upcoming player. Recently lifted the lid on his Hannibal Lecter-style routine. Included chunks of heart and liver. The 22-year-old, claims to have 6,000 calories a day. Every day at his home he uses a cryotherapy chamber. Users spend five minutes in the chamber - any longer could pose a serious risk to health.

The weird and wonderful world of football.

Large parts of it are. Someone lowered the tone earlier on in this thread by linking to the Daily Mail.

Perish the thought The Times indulging in such low brow vulgarity!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2tQ1qvGNC8

@Kumagaijin: What an unnecessary comment. All the Canadians I have known here have been/are very pleasant people. I guess you are the exception to the rule. How sad to be such a bitter person.

17 million watched it in France. The game was watched by 22 million viewers in the UK. Le Monde today, said England was the better team.

Sport, like alcohol, brings out people's true colours.

I watched a great competitive game played in good spirits by both teams demonstrating a high level of technical ability. My team didn't win, but that's life. Sometimes luck doesn't go your team's way.

But wow, the petty comments above. So many people seem to have a chip on their shoulder. I know we can't all be English, but there's no need to openly reveal this as a personal inadequacy.

The English team were abysmal, Harry Kane should be dropped from future teams - it's time for new people to have a go. But one has to wonder, are there any English left to pick from Premier League teams to play for England ?

The English team were abysmal, Harry Kane should be dropped from future teams - it's time for new people to have a go.

Not sure if you watched the match, but I suspect not. It was an excellent game, with good quality football from both teams.

Kane has played an important role in the England team this campaign, and played well (notwithstanding the unfortunate penalty miss).

In terms of "new people", England have a good group of young players coming up through the ranks. I would have thought the sight of Bellingham, Foden and Saka over the course of this campaign should have made that fairly obvious.

This is not an excuse, France were more clinical and did what had to be done. But that referee was a disgrace. The fact that he did not give the penalty when Mount was taken out NFL-style and the ref had to be brought back by the VAR team.

Too much credit being given to England this morning. They lost a quarter-final and when they were the better team in the 2nd half France scored the winner.

Southgate's style is football with the handbrake on. He will get you to a quarter-final or a semi-final with his brand of low-risk football but England will never win a trophy under him.

Saka was the most dangerous player on the pitch and they brought him off in order to keep the shape with 10 minutes left and losing. Says it all really.

The referee.was incompetent, regressive and unsuitable to officiate at this level.

It was what it was, the best game of the tournament. Two attacking high quality teams and a fairly good referee. I think he kept the game well in hand with a "let them play" and not a "handbrake" attitude. Both teams could have won, with France the more technically gifted and England the more passionate team. From here on it will only go down. Morocco and Croatia are both hard working teams but just don't play at the same level as the top teams. Argentina will use any dirty trick available to win, to give Messi his missing medal and the arbitrage will let them. England/France should have been the final...

Wanted to stay up and watch the game -- or wake up and watch the game, but alas, never became a reality. Then I completely forgot about it, and the Morocco/Portugal game, until just now because, let's face it, soccer is no longer being talked about much here if at all. Sounds like a missed a couple of good ones. Oh well.

TokyoOldManDec. 11  08:50 pm JST

The English team were abysmal, Harry Kane should be dropped from future teams - it's time for new people to have a go. But one has to wonder, are there any English left to pick from Premier League teams to play for England ?

Hitting the nail right in the head.

theResidentDec. 11  04:00 pm JST

Honestly, Thought it was a cracking game of Football, as dissapointed with the result as I am.... If anybody who has commented really thinks that England were playing for a draw was watching a recording of games from the past.

England certainly weren't playing for a win. Their only chance was a shootout. France was dominating the game up and down the field the entire game and the score shows that.

wallaceDec. 11  05:07 pm JST

But at the end of the game, the team with the most goals wins. That is not always the best team. But there are also many draws but not in this knockout stage of the WC.

More smoke and mirrors. The better team won overwhelmingly.

Fans of England are evidently finding it hard to come to grips that not only did the better team win, but the considerably better team won. England looked lost out there from the start.

ClippetyClopDec. 11  10:22 pm JST

He's right though; you know nothing about football, but then again you didn't come here to talk about it did you? You came here to troll.

Anyone watching the game could see how superior the French were at handling the ball. The English were adept at throwing themselves to the ground in the hopes of getting a free kick.

Logg

your selective titbits of my posts.

wallace Dec. 11  05:07 pm JST

   But at the end of the game, the team with the most goals wins. That is not always the best team. But there are also many draws but not in this knockout stage of the WC.

More smoke and mirrors. The better team won overwhelmingly.

Fans of England are evidently finding it hard to come to grips that not only did the better team win, but the considerably better team won. England looked lost out there from the start.

I was replying to cleo's comment

@wallace Dec. 11 03:46 pm JST

cleo

On this occasion, France only had 48% possession of the ball but they were the better team and won. Though England nearly scored two or three times and missed a penalty.

I don't find it try to accept England lost and France won. I watched the play and England had many good moments too.

I see you are the biased one who seems to hate the England team.

Anyone watching the game could see how superior the French were at handling the ball

You aren’t allowed to handle the ball in football unless you are a keeper.

This is very, very basic stuff.

Nobody with any knowledge of football would use the expression ‘handling’ a ball when talking about possession.

Those with an obvious ignorance of the game can’t be taken seriously.

Straight red, son.

wallaceToday  12:21 am JST

I don't find it try to accept England lost and France won. I watched the play and England had many good moments too.

I see you are the biased one who seems to hate the England team.

I am not biased, and I am based in England, so naturally I was rooting for the home team in this one.

I have to face many a disappointed colleague over the next few days.

But, France was a machine, even though there were some subpar play by some main members.

This was a tough loss for me, as I had bet on England to win this one. I also had bet on Saudi Arabia over Argentina so I guess I come out alright in the end.

The referee.was incompetent, regressive and unsuitable to officiate at this level.

A proper football comment (albeit with more syllables than usual). I'm assuming it's from a supporter of the losing team.

This was a tough loss for me, as I had bet on England to win this one

What odds did you get?

Saudi Arabia over Argentina so I guess I come out alright in the end

Must have been a cracking win. What odds did you get?

I know they were pretty high but of course they were different with different bookies. Who did you bet with?

JimizoToday  12:47 am JST

What odds did you get? 

+200 for England win, online, and also hit the over, which was 2.5.

Must have been a cracking win. What odds did you get? 

This was before the tournament started and was 50-1 for a Saudi win.

I know they were pretty high but of course they were different with different bookies. Who did you bet with?

Before the start, I betted at a casino in Connecticut(small state next to New York) while I was back for Thanksgiving, and took all the underdogs for the first round.

England/France I did online with Bovada.

Saudi was the big score. I put $200 on all the underdogs to win.

Biggest regret was I was about to put another $200 on Saudi after they were down 1-0, and had 125-1 odds, but didn't, as it was not in my original plan to do anything other than pick outright winners in the first round.

This was before the tournament started and was 50-1 for a Saudi win

50-1 to win the game? The best I saw was less than half of that.

Incredible odds. Beggars belief. Suicidal for a bookie particularly in a World Cup opener. Mad results in opening games are not that uncommon.

Can you give me the name of the casino before it goes bust?

Biggest regret was I was about to put another $200 on Saudi after they were down 1-0, and had 125-1 odds, but didn't, as it was not in my original plan to do anything other than pick outright winners in the first round

I did the quick google search too. That story was one of the first to come up.

The “English” were grossly incompetent and arrogant.!. Then in typical English fashion , making excuses for being beaten down by the better team .!.

@Steven Mccarthy: I'm English. Can you please point out my 'excuses' in my post regarding the game?

Arrogant? Then I don't think you saw any of the pre match interviews with Gareth Southgate or any of the senior players.

Incompetent? I suggest you read the French press reports of the game.

theResidentToday  12:56 pm JST

@Steven Mccarthy: I'm English. Can you please point out my 'excuses' in my post regarding the game?

No excuses, because there were no excuses for the thrashing by France upon England.

Cringing.

One of the matches I would like most to forget. Terrible display of lack of offense from England.

Painkiller:

'Thrashing'? Ok mate.

Lack of offensive play?

Shots ON Target : England 7 - France 5.

Total Shots : England 18 - France 8

Passing Accuracy 85% by both teams.

Do you want me to go on showing how evenly the match was balanced. These are not excuses. These are facts. Do I think you even watched it? No.

No excuses. We lost. But your comments are total nonsense and show your complete lack of knowledge of the Sport.

As I said, a cracking game of Football.

theResidentToday  04:00 pm JST

Painkiller:

'Thrashing'? Ok mate.

Yep. France scored 2 goals during regular play. England scored 0.

Lack of offensive play? 

Yep. Complete lack of goals by England except for a spot kick.

Shots ON Target : England 7 - France 5.

Evidently France's goalie made 7 great saves, or England's shots were not so difficult to save.

Total Shots : England 18 - France 8

Total shots that were goals: England 0 - France 2

Passing Accuracy 85% by both teams.

Goals produced from such accurate passing: France 2 - -England 0

Pass all you want. Makes no difference unless a goal is scored.

Do you want me to go on showing how evenly the match was balanced.

Can you when the score was 2-1?

These are not excuses. These are facts. Do I think you even watched it? No.

Oh, boils down to your thinking if I watched or not.

No excuses. We lost. But your comments are total nonsense and show your complete lack of knowledge of the Sport.

Here we go--the insults!

Read my responses to your silly breakdown of a game in which France scored 2 goals in regular play, and England scored ZERO and we can discuss later your complete silliness in making those weak weak arguments. My knowledge of the game is far superior than yours--for starters, I'm not calling a game even where France scored 2 goals in regular play and England scored ZERO.

Your comments show a complete lack of understanding of what it takes to win a game--kind of sad in a way.

Have a cup of tea and I hope you recover.

Read my responses to your silly breakdown of a game in which France scored 2 goals in regular play, and England scored ZERO and we can discuss later your complete silliness in making those weak weak arguments. My knowledge of the game is far superior than yours--for starters, I'm not calling a game even where France scored 2 goals in regular play and England scored ZERO.

Lol. You gonna cry? You know lots about zero don't you.

Some very queer responses here, some with double meanings.

I stand firmly behind my comments regarding the appalling and disgraceful decisions made by the ref.