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This was lastly England’s alternative to carry it dwelling.
Strolling onto the Al Bayt Stadium pitch realizing they might face giant-killers Morocco quite than conventional powerhouse Portugal in a semifinal, the English workforce knew this second was theirs for the taking.
Sure, it got here towards the reigning champions in France. Sure, they must cease the dazzling brilliance of Kylian Mbappe. And sure, a historical past of heartache and missed probabilities weighed closely on their shoulders.
However this English workforce was totally different — dynamic however reliable, shimmering however stout.
This workforce was going to lastly give David Baddiel and Frank Skinner a chart-topper to rejoice.
And all of it got here right down to the boot of their ever-reliable skipper Harry Kane. These are the 11 images that instructed the story of the match.
1. Household issues, however soccer issues extra
English soccer might be simply as a lot about these off the sector as it’s on the sector.
Earlier than a ball had even been kicked, cameras have been skilled on the stands to maintain a watchful eye on the family and friends of the gamers, capturing each inkling of pleasure and ache to splash over the pages of English tabloids on Sunday morning.
They watched Harry Kane’s brother, Charlie. They skilled the lens on Gary and Una Maddison, the mother and father of James Maddison. Wives and girlfriends have been beneath fixed surveillance.
After which there was little Arlo Pickford, son of goalkeeper Jordan.
Painted up like the child in Love Really on the finish of the Christmas live performance, Arlo introduced a little bit of cute to a tense build-up.
It was a reminder that that is all only a foolish recreation, and what actually issues is household.
However what issues extra is soccer.
2. What number of dudes roll like this? Not many, Tchouaméni
It took simply 17 minutes for English followers to utter “not once more” in unison.
With the sport trying moderately tight early, France goes on a thought of assault, tapping the ball round the precise aspect of their field as 9 English gamers stand between them and the targets.
As Aurélien Tchouaméni crops himself useless centre of the sector, about 23m from the web, Antoine Griezmann spots him, and punctiliously sends the ball in direction of the Actual Madrid defensive midfielder.
Tchouaméni takes one contact, and unleashes a low bullet together with his proper foot to the precise of the diving Pickford.
France is first on the board, and crimson and white heads drop all through the stadium.
3. Hugo bosses the English strikers
With the groups going into the halftime break at 1-0 France’s means, the English gamers come again out onto the pitch with hearth within the bellies and a track of their coronary heart — almost definitely the more and more insupportable Three Lions.
They’re simply two minutes into the half when Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham unleashes a firecracker on the French defence in an try to tie it up.
It seems to be good all the best way, till French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes an distinctive diving save to maintain the Poms at bay.
4. Aurélien giveth, Aurélien taketh
Soccer is usually a merciless mistress.
In a single second you are celebrating a surprise strike that has the entire of France singing La Marseillaise in unison, the following, you are giving up a penalty that is extra sacré bleu than vive la France.
Nonetheless driving excessive from his earlier objective, Tchouaméni defends desperately as England faucet the ball round their field — and it is distinctly too determined.
He clips Bukayo Saka’s leg with out taking any of the ball, and the referee instantly factors to the spot.
It is the 54th minute, and Kane has the chance to tie issues up.
He converts, as a result of Harry Kane is ever dependable, proper? Proper!?
5. On target
Buoyed by the penalty to attract issues degree, England turns into the ferocious, dazzling England that we have grown to like or hate — relying on how you are feeling in regards to the nation itself.
They management the ball and management the sector, and France seems to be nearly torpid because of this.
One other foray ahead sees common whipping boy Harry Maguire have a chance at a trademark header.
The defender leaps between his French opponents and heads the ball flush. It sails in direction of the targets however dips too far left within the course of journey, and simply misses the goal.
Maguire screams in frustration, but it surely’s an indication that issues are on course for the English workforce.
6. Giroud reveals his guts — and scores as nicely
He is been described as essentially the most good-looking man in soccer, however Olivier Giroud is extra beast than magnificence as he hammers in a header that breaks English hearts.
Having cleared the primary cost ahead, the English defence will get caught ball-watching as Griezmann dribbles down the left win and fires in a excessive, curling cross.
Giroud takes benefit of the distracted England defence and floats in to energy the ball previous Pickford by way of his exceptionally quiffed bonce.
The French go wild as Giroud pulls at his jersey and screams on the crowd.
It is the 78th minute, and time is fasting operating out for England to tie issues up.
7. Artwork imitates life by way of Bellingham pleas
Because the clock ticks into the 81st minute, England sweeps ahead however a cross into the field seems to be more likely to glide on by with out worrying the goalkeeper.
Because the ball flies over the pinnacle of England’s Mason Mount, French defender Theo Hernandez barrels into him, sending Mount to the turf in an pointless show of physicality.
The referee retains the sport going regardless of English protestations — after which VAR steps in.
On dwell replay it is a 50-50 name, however slowed down it turns into clear that it is a sure penalty.
The England gamers rejoice, however in addition they wish to see Hernandez despatched off. Bellingham pleads at referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio together with his greatest Edvard Munch The Scream impression, however the act solely warrants a yellow card.
Sampaio factors to the spot, and Harry Kane struts as much as take a penalty that he is practiced hundreds of occasions, that he is transformed nearly simply as many, and that may put England again on degree pegging with lower than ten minutes left of normal time …
8. Kane shouldn’t be ready
… and the shot flies excessive.
English hearts break. It is deja vu over again.
Kane pulls his jersey over his face as teammates run over to console him.
It is a dejected and miserable trying scene within the English camp, each on the sector and off it.
For France, although, the response could not be extra totally different.
9. Laughter is the very best drugs — in the event you win
The French gamers and followers go wild.
Kylian Mbappe is pictured laughing maniacally as English heads hunch.
On the sidelines, substitutes and starters alike bounce throughout one another as the group goes wild within the background, desperately attempting to not fall onto the sector.
The French know that it is a very, very England soccer second.
However in addition they know there’s nonetheless time for it to all go flawed, having witnessed what the Netherlands did to Argentina 24 hours earlier.
10. Hopes disappear over the crossbar
With an honest chunk of additional time added on, French nerves jingle as England is awarded a free kick simply exterior the field.
Marcus Rashford steps as much as the duty, realizing this will likely be England’s closing likelihood at drawing issues degree.
Recollections recent from Wout Weghort’s free kick objective within the closing seconds of the quarterfinal the day earlier than, the French arrange excessive and low to cease the shot.
Rashford takes his shot and it is a magnificence.
It curls previous the French wall and is out of the attain of Lloris, who had been spectacular all through.
It has velocity, grace, and sufficient curve to make David Beckham blush within the crowd.
Nevertheless it flies ever so barely excessive.
It is going to be the final soccer act of the sport, because the referee calls time on the match and time on one other misplaced alternative for the English trustworthy.
11. England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away
At the beginning of the re-release video of Three Lions in 1998, David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and Ian Broudie stand within the rain and watch a tv flickering in a retailer window.
On it, Gareth Southgate is lining as much as take the essential penalty at Euro ’96.
“Gareth Southgate, the entire of England is with you,” comes the commentary.
The ball is saved, England lose, and the anthem that each one of England loves however needs would simply finish lives on for one more technology.
The Harry Kane shot was bizarrely related.
After the match, English head coach Southgate makes a beeline for his shattered skipper. He hugs him and holds his head in his palms.
Southgate has been right here earlier than, and he is aware of the sensation. Kane is about to face the extraordinary warmth of an English media and supporter base who’ve seen all of it crumble once more.
The lights are on, the teapot is boiling, and the very best biscuits have been put out on the very best plates — however the lengthy wait stays.
As soon as once more, it isn’t coming dwelling.
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