Tottenham star Harry Kane suffered penalty heartbreak for England but Kylian Mbappe couldn’t hide his joy and delight as the England captain faltered.
England v France rounded out the quarter-final stage of the World Cup with Croatia, Argentina and Morocco all booking their places in the semi-finals.
France took a first-half lead as Aurelien Tchouameni powered home a superb strike, only for Kane to level it up from the penalty spot.
Olivier Giroud gave France their second lead of the game but England were given another spot kick with Theo Hernandez fouling Mason Mount.
Kane stepped up for another spot kick but couldn’t repeat the success of his first goal, blazing his second effort over the bar.
Kylian Mbappe couldn’t hide his joy after Kane penalty miss
That was England’s golden moment to draw level and it went begging, leaving France to advance to the semi-finals against Morocco.
Kane looked absolutely distraught both after missing his penalty and after the full-time whistle, mirroring the feelings of a nation.
Yet whilst one country’s star striker was crushed, another was overjoyed.
Photos captured France hitman Kylian Mbappe celebrating wildly as he watched Kane blaze his effort over the bar.
Mbappe almost seemed to be laughing as England’s big chance came and went, with the Paris Saint-Germain attacker seemingly understanding the importance of that chance.
Mbappe maybe didn’t have his absolute best night in a France shirt and the hyped-up battle against Kyle Walker didn’t produce much incident.
Still, Mbappe’s pace and skill on the ball poses a constant threat and he will be the key man for France against Morocco.
If a penalty comes Mbappe’s way, he will just have to hope that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as Kane with many no doubt waiting to take pleasure at any kind of downfall.
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