Harry Kane's Missed Penalty Leaves Fans in Disbelief as France Advances at World Cup
Dec 10, 2022
AL KHOR, QATAR - DECEMBER 10: A dejected Harry Kane of England reacts after his team is knocked out of the World Cup during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France at Al Bayt Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Soccer fans from England and across the world were left flabbergasted by Harry Kane's missed penalty kick late in Saturday's 2-1 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal loss to France.
Just minutes after Olivier Giroud's 78th-minute goal gave France a 2-1 lead, Kane made his way to the spot following a foul on England's Mason Mount in the box.
Kane had scored on a penalty in the 54th minute to tie the game and tie him with Wayne Rooney for the most career goals in the history of England's senior national team, but his second PK attempt was sent well over the bar:
Squawka pointed out the disparity between the two penalties Kane took Saturday, and others took the opportunity to poke fun at the British striker's high-pressure miss:
England entered the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as one of the top contenders, but as has been the case for several decades in a row, the squad is going home once again without a trophy.
The Three Lions have only one World Cup title, that being a victory in 1966. Since then, they haven't even managed to reach a final.
They had the better of the play for long stretches Saturday, but they ran into a battle-tested squad in France, which won the World Cup four years ago and is now two wins away from being the first repeat winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Thanks to Giroud's goal and Kane's miss, France is moving on to the semifinals Wednesday to face one of the biggest Cinderella stories in the history of the World Cup in Morocco.
Morocco held on for a 1-0 win over Portugal on Saturday, making it the first African nation to ever reach the World Cup semifinals. Meanwhile, Argentina and 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia will meet in the other semifinal.
World Cup Results 2022: Quarterfinal Scores; Semifinal Bracket and Odds
Dec 10, 2022
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 10: Jawad El Yamiq (C) of Morocco and Youssef En-Nesyri (L) of Morocco celebrate after scoring the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The most successful underdog in FIFA World Cup history and the reigning champion completed the semifinal field in Qatar with wins on Saturday.
Morocco pulled off yet another upset by taking down Portugal 1-0. The Atlas Lions now have clean sheets against Portugal, Spain, Croatia and Belgium at the World Cup.
The first African side to reach the World Cup semifinals will face France on Wednesday after the French took care of England 2-1.
France and Croatia are both back in the final four, like they were in 2018 with England and Belgium.
The France-Morocco winner will face the Croatia-Argentina winner in the final on Dec. 17.
Morocco 1, Portugal 0
Morocco continued its remarkable run in Qatar by playing the exact same way it has for the entire tournament.
The Atlas Lions put in another incredible defensive shift and took advantage of one mistake to finish off Portugal.
Morocco had 27 percent of the possession and conceded 12 shots to Portugal, with only three on goal.
But Portugal was ineffective with its chances, even when Cristiano Ronaldo entered in the 51st minute.
Morocco netted the only goal of the contest in the 42nd minute, when Youssef En-Nesyri leaped over everyone else in the box and scored on a header.
The Real Madrid midfielder blasted the long-distance shot perfectly into the bottom left corner past a diving Jordan Pickford.
England did not provide a response until the 54th minute. Harry Kane scorched a penalty into the left side of the net after Bukayo Saka was fouled in the box.
Griezmann produced an assist on both French goals. The Atlético Madrid forward had an assist in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 2018 World Cup before scoring once and assisting twice in the final.
England received a golden opportunity to level again in the 84th minute, when Mason Mount was shouldered by Theo Hernández.
Kane could not recreate the same penalty magic again, as his shot soared over Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris in goal.
England was unable to produce another chance as opportunistic as the second penalty in the closing stages of the second half.
France is now through to the semifinals once again at the World Cup. Only Morocco stands in the way of Les Bleus' chance to repeat as World Cup winner.
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Portugal Manager Has 'No Regrets' About Benching Cristiano Ronaldo at World Cup
Dec 10, 2022
DOHA - Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinal match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. ANP KOEN VAN WEEL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Portugal national team coach Fernando Santos stands by his decision to keep Cristiano Ronaldo out of the starting lineup despite the team's 1-0 loss to Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinal.
"I don't think so...no regrets," Santos said, per ESPN's Rob Dawson. "I think this was a team which played very well against Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player; he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets."
Ronaldo was subbed into the match in the 51st minute, but the squad was unable to score the equalizer.
The veteran forward had started each of the team's three group-stage matches before being dropped from the starting lineup in the round-of-16 battle against Switzerland. Gonçalo Ramos took Ronaldo's place and scored three goals in that 6-1 win.
After Tuesday's match, Santos explained that it was a tactical decision to keep Ronaldo on the bench.
"They are different players," the coach told reporters. "It was game strategy."
There were ensuing reports Ronaldo planned to leave the team over the roster move, but the Portuguese Football Federation denied the report.
"Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team," the statement said.
The dominant win over Switzerland caused Santos to use a similar lineup against Morocco with Ronaldo on the bench. The only change came in the midfield with Rúben Neves starting over William Carvalho.
The move backfired as Portugal struggled to create chances. The team controlled 73.3 percent of possession but only got three shots on goal during the match, via WhoScored.com.
Ronaldo tallied just 11 touches and took one shot in 39 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo Shock World Cup Exit Dominates Twitter as Portugal Falls to Morocco
Dec 10, 2022
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were knocked out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The loss ended a tough stretch of games for Ronaldo. He did not score a goal from open play in Qatar; his lone strike came on a penalty in the group opener against Ghana.
Ronaldo was benched for the second straight game. He entered in the 51st minute and did not offer much until a half-chance near the end of the game.
Would have never imagined Ronaldo getting benched in a World Cup Round of 16 and Quarter final game. Really is the end man 😪
Portugal might have stood a chance if Ronaldo wasn't unfairly benched; Santos actually made a bad call. That said, congrats to Morocco on winning the match & being the first African team to qualify for the World Cup semifinal. Wishing 'em nothing but the best in their next game.
Ronaldo scored four times against Bono back in a La Liga game back in 2018, when the current Morocco keeper was at Girona and the now Portugal sub was at Real Madrid. Different times etc.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup (inc. third place play-off), going 570 minutes without scoring and taking 27 shots in the process.
It’s the end for Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. The Portuguese leaves the pitch in tears on his last appearance ever in the World Cup. 🚨🇵🇹 #Ronaldo#Qatar2022pic.twitter.com/fWLC6YN0Wj
If that was Ronaldo's last game for Portugal, he leaves with a long legacy despite not winning the World Cup. He was part of the team that won Euro 2016 and scored 118 goals in 197 appearances—a record men's international goals total
The rest of the World Cup semi finalist field will be filled out on Saturday. England and France square off in the marquee matchup of the knockout round....
Twitter Erupts as Lionel Messi, Argentina Beat Netherlands in World Cup Classic
Dec 9, 2022
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 09: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi took another step toward what would be a crowning achievement as Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina appeared to be home clear in the final stages of the match, and Wout Weghorst's opener in the 83rd was little more than a consolation at first. But the Dutch kept pushing forward and found the equalizer through a brilliant set piece finished off by Weghorst in stoppage time.
100th minute. In the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
The match went to a penalty shootout after neither country could break the deadlock in extra time. The Netherlands' first two penalty takers, Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis, saw their attempts saved by Argentina keeper Emi Martínez, which put the South Americans firmly in control. Lautaro Martínez converted the winner to send the Argentines through.
It was a suitably dramatic conclusion to an instant classic.
Lionel Messi delivered a standout performance that was overshadowed by the Dutch comeback.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has been an integral member of the national team, totaling three goals and one assist entering Friday. He added a second assist when he found Nahuel Molina for Argentina's opener in the 35th minute.
After Denzel Dumfries fouled Marcos Acuña in the 18-yard box, Messi doubled Argentina's lead from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute.
The goal symbolized the sense of inevitability surrounding the 35-year-old.
The footballing gods have decided it’s his and their year. Write it on the trophy, nobody is stopping Lionel Messi and Argentina. I’m not sure if anybody can stop him.
Argentina will meet Croatia in the semifinals on Dec. 13 after the Croatians knocked out Brazil in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday.
On paper, that's the easier of the two opponents, but Croatia's defensive strength can't be overlooked. Zlatko Dalić's squad gave up one goal in the group stage and held Japan and Brazil to one goal apiece in the knockout stages.
Messi's brilliance could be required once again to seal Argentina's passage to the World Cup final for the second time in the last three tournaments.
World Cup Results 2022: Scores, Updated Quarterfinals Bracket After Friday
Dec 9, 2022
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 09: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates scoring the team's first penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi's dream of winning a World Cup is still alive.
Argentina needed an extra 30 minutes and penalties to keep that dream alive, but all that matters is La Albiceleste are on to the 2022 World Cup semifinals.
Argentina knocked out the Netherlands in the second of two penalty shootouts to take place in Qatar on Friday.
Croatia, the penalty shootout kings of the last two World Cups, defeated Brazil to advance to its second straight World Cup semifinal.
Messi and Argentina will meet Luka Modrić and Croatia on Tuesday in the first of two World Cup semifinals.
Argentina 2 (4), Netherlands 2 (3)
Argentina did not like the path it took to the penalty shootout, but it still emerged victorious.
Martínez had not made a save on the two shots on goal he faced over 120 minutes. The Dutch finished their two chances to come back from a deficit forged by Lionel Messi.
Lautaro Martínez finished off the shootout win in the fifth round.
Messi was once again at the center of Argentina's most important moments in a World Cup game.
Messi provided a first-half assist and scored a penalty in the second half to place La Albiceleste in the lead.
Messi produced a brilliant pass into Nahuel Molina in the 35th minute to open the scoring.
Messi set the ball up on a perfect angle from his position outside the box to feed Molina and avoid the handful of Dutch defenders that tried to surround him.
The Argentinian legend scored the crucial second goal in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot. Messi blasted his fourth goal of the 2022 World Cup and 10th career World Cup strike past a diving Andries Noppert.
The Dutch applied pressure for the seven second-half minutes and 10 minutes of stoppage time that followed. They finally broke through in the 101st minute, when Weghorst finished past Emiliano Martínez on a craftily-played free kick that avoided the Argentinian wall.
In penalties, Dominik Livaković made one save to add to his impressive resume in Qatar. He made 10 saves in 120 minutes against Brazil and had multiple denials in the round-of-16 shoutout win over Japan.
Neymar was the orchestrator of a beautiful move that featured two give-and-go pass sequences and a quality finish over Livaković.
Neymar tied Pelé for the most goals in Brazil men's national team history. But that was the only celebratory moment in the Seleção attack.
The Brazilians put one of their 11 shots on target past Livaković. Croatia did not have a shot in target in regulation.
Croatia is now set for its second straight World Cup semifinal appearance on Tuesday against Argentina.
Neymar: 'Too Early to Say' If 2022 World Cup Was Last with Brazil
Dec 9, 2022
Brazil's forward #10 Neymar (C) is consoled by Brazil's defender #13 Dani Alves after their team lost the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil's star forward, Neymar, declined to make a declaration about his future or whether Friday's heartbreaking loss in penalties to Croatia would be his final FIFA World Cup appearance.
"It's too early to say that," he told reporters. "I've no clear ideas yet—I can't guarantee anything."
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar played a similar tune in November when asked about his World Cup future.
"I'll play like it's the last," he told Globo last month (h/t Adriana Garcia of ESPN). "I talk to my father, we always talk, to play each game as if it were the last because you don't know what will happen tomorrow. I can't guarantee that I'll play another [World] Cup. I honestly don't know. I'll play like it's the last. Maybe I'll play another one, maybe not. It depends. There's going to be a coaching change and I don't know if that coach will like me."
Neymar moved into a tie with the legendary Pelé at 77 goals, the most in Brazil men's national team history, after scoring the game's first goal on Friday. Marta is the country's all-time leader at 115 goals.
It was Neymar's second goal in Qatar, the third time he's posted multigoal performances at the World Cup.
One of the few accomplishments Neymar hasn't checked off in his incredible career has been a World Cup title. No country has more World Cup triumphs, as Brazil have won the tournament five times, but not since 2002.
So if Neymar wants one last chance, it will come at the 2026 tournament, when he's 33. A number of stars at this year's World Cup have exceeded that age, including Lionel Messi (35), Luka Modrić (37) and Cristiano Ronaldo (37), so it's hardly a stretch to believe that Neymar might still be in fine form and able to make a major impact for Brazil in four years.
Tite Exits as Brazil Manager After 2022 World Cup Quarterfinal Loss to Croatia
Dec 9, 2022
Brazil's coach Tite gestures on the touchline during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil's national soccer team will have a new coach in 2023.
Tite will not return as manager of the Seleção following the team's loss to Croatia in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Friday, per insider Fabrizio Romano.
The 61-year-old previously announced in February that the 2022 World Cup would be his last tournament as Brazil's manager.
"I'm going until the end of the World Cup," Tite told SporTV, per ESPN's Adriana Garcia. "I have no reason to lie here. I don't want to win any way. I've won everything in my career, the only thing missing is the World Cup."
Croatia stunned Brazil 4-2 on penalties in Friday's match to reach the World Cup semifinals for the second consecutive tournament. It reached the 2018 World Cup final in Russia, where they fell to France.
Tite was hired as manager of the Seleção in June 2016, replacing Dunga. He led Brazil to the 2018 World Cup semifinals in Russia, where they fell 2-1 to Belgium. Considering Brazil was a favorite to make a run to the final in Qatar, its loss on Friday is a major disappointment.
Under Tite, Brazil won the 2019 Copa América in Rio de Janeiro. It marked their ninth Copa América title and first since 2007. Before 2019, they hadn't even played in the Copa América final since they last won it in 2007.
Trying to repeat as champions in 2021, Brazil fell to Argentina 1-0, finishing runners-up for the 12th time since the tournament's inception in 1919.
Brazil, which has won a record five World Cup titles, has not won the tournament since 2002. Their next manager will try to lead them to that elusive sixth title when the World Cup shifts to Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026.
Before being hired as Brazil's manager, Tite coached clubs all around Brazil, including Gremio, Atletico Mineiro, Palmeiras, Corinthians and Sao Caetano.
Neymar, Brazil's Shocking World Cup Loss to Croatia Stuns Soccer Fans Across Twitter
Dec 9, 2022
AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 09: Brazil players look dejected after their sides' elimination from the tournament after a penalty shoot out loss during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Brazil exited the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Friday in one of the most frustrating ways to lose a knockout-round soccer match.
Neymar put Brazil ahead in the 106th minute, but that was not enough to send the Seleção through to the semifinals.
Croatia scored in the 116th minute through Bruno Petkovic and then won 4-2 in penalties.
Croatia played a fantastic game. They are relentless. Save Neymar’s moment of brilliance, they knew how to manage the tempo of the game and wear out Brazil.
Brazil hadn’t chased the ball at the World Cup like they did today.
Croatia knock out Brazil with a truly astonishing win. They are 4/4 in World Cup penalty shootouts and just never know when they are beaten. Dominik Livaković was outstanding. Luka Modric's final World Cup goes on! 🇭🇷👏 pic.twitter.com/3XGjRzMsHX
Brazil thought it had the edge in extra time, when Neymar produced one of the best goals of the tournament. The 30-year-old played two give-and-go passes with teammates, rounded the goalkeeper and stuck it in the top of the net.
However, it was not enough for Brazil to hang on to the lead. Croatia just kept fighting and found a way to equalise. Petkovic's deflected strike went past the diving Alisson and left plenty of questions about how Brazil approached the game, especially the second period of extra time.
