‘Les rosbifs’ can’t quite cut the mustard despite having more bite than before
It has been an unusual World Cup; held in midwinter in a country with little footballing tradition amid deep political controversy. But there are some traditions that can be relied on – such as a missed penalty sending England crashing out just as fans began to dream of glory.
Gareth Southgate had insisted his team were ready for the biggest game of their career, mentally and tactically.
In the end, however, it was France who went through 2-1 after captain Harry Kane thumped an agonising late spot-kick over the bar that would have taken the teams to extra time.
Outside the tent-shaped Al Bayt Stadium after the match, gloomy England fans said the team had been “hard done by” and said they were proud of the players despite the loss.
“There’s no shame in going out to France. They’re a great side with one of the best players in the world,” said England fan Kevin Broughton, 60, who travelled out to Doha from Grimsby. “I think Gareth Southgate might resign now, which is sad really. He’s done a great job.”
Peter Thomas, 39, who travelled to Qatar from the Isle of Wight, said fans back home should be “dead proud” of the Three Lions.
“People of my generation remember what it was like to go out in the group stages, or to play terribly through whole tournaments,” he said.
“We’ve got used to success. The kids today are spoiled because they expect England to win every match. It’s not like that. I think they should hold their heads up high.”
It took only 17 minutes for the world champions to strike, as midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni whipped a superb shot from 25 yards past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England pressed for an equaliser, forcing French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into a string of saves. Hope came after half-time as winger Bukayo Saka swerved into the box and was tripped for a penalty. Kane stepped up and smashed the ball home.
Just as England appeared to be on top, the match swung again as veteran French striker Oliver Giroud powered a header into the net. Then came Kane’s nightmare moment. Mason Mount was shoved over in the penalty area, and after a VAR check England were awarded a lifeline penalty. Kane placed the ball on the spot, as he had done earlier, but this time blasted high over the bar.
Little more than 10 minutes later, the referee blew his whistle and England were out.
The omens should have been good – only a few hours earlier a team of England fans had beaten their French counterparts 7-4 in a seven-a-side match in the windswept surroundings of Doha Sports Park.
France took the lead three times before England pegged the score back to 3-3 on the stroke of half-time and overran the French in the second half.
Garford Beck, the “manager” of the England supporters’ team, said the match had been the ideal preparation for last night’s quarter final.
“It’s a great way of bringing fans together and the game had a little bit of
‘I think Gareth Southgate might resign now, which is sad really. He’s done a great job’
an edge.” Both sets of fans anticipated that the game would be a tough one, with many convinced that whoever won would go on to lift the World Cup.
Babacar Sall, from Massy, in France, said: “The winner of tonight might be the favourite to win the World Cup even if Argentina are on the other side against Croatia.”
England’s pubs and clubs had been praying that “les rosbifs” would find a way of neutralising the likes of Mbappe and Griezmann, and not only for patriotic reasons.
The British Beer and Pub Association hoped the 7pm kick-off time in the UK would encourage punters to get down to their locals early. It predicted six million more pints were likely to be sold during the quarter-final, providing a welcome £26million boost to the industry which it hoped would continue if England reached the semi-finals.
Emma McClarkin, the association’s chief executive, said: “Pubs need this as they continue to weather what was already set to be a difficult winter, with rising energy costs and the cost-ofliving crisis and their outlook further dampened by news of rail strikes over the usually busy festive period.
“Whilst the tournament won’t be able to make up for an extremely difficult trading environment, we’re hoping it will at least provide some short-term uplift to the industry and continue to lift the spirits of the nation.”
There was certainly plenty of build-up. At the Cabana
Hop Garden, in Doha’s Radisson Blu Hotel, England fans danced to New Order’s World In Motion and sang their own version of Neil
Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. In London, extra police officers were deployed in anticipation of large numbers of English and French fans.
More than 700 French expats gathered at the Zoo Bar and Club in Leicester Square. Les Bleus fans wore France football shirts and blue wigs, and brought scarves and flags as they danced to French music in the venue ahead of the game.
The Prince of Wales later said he was “gutted” for England, adding “we are all so proud of you”.
William tweeted: “Gareth, Harry and the whole @England squad and staff, gutted for all of you. You put so much into this tournament and we are all so proud of you. Heads held high and on to the next one!”
Harry Kane said last night: “We love having Gareth as a manager. We want him to stay for sure, but that’s his decision. I am sure he will go away and think about that. We’ve got a great team, great young players, players coming into their prime and we’ve got a Euros not too far away. As much as this hurts, we have to move on and look forward to that.”
Downing Street said Rishi Sunak – who was watching the game at the Prime Minister’s retreat, Chequers – wished England the “best of luck”. After the game Mr Sunak wished France well in the semi-finals. The Prime Minister tweeted: “Harry and the team gave it everything but it wasn’t to be. They can hold their heads high tonight. Best of luck to France in the next round.”
With Morocco waiting in the semi-finals, England’s players would have fancied their chances of a place in the final. But for now,
those dreams of 1966 will have to wait, and the hurt goes on.