SoccerBy Jacob Myers on

It’s another major tournament that England will head home thinking about what could have been. And, again, it’s because of penalties.

After losing in a heartbreaking penalty shootout in the Euro final to Italy, England lost 2-1 to France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after Harry Kane missed a penalty kick in the 84th minute.

Earlier in the match, Kane tied Wayne Rooney as England’s all-time scorer on a penalty against his Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris in the 54th minute to tie the match. So, surely, when one of the best strikers to ever play for the Three Lions in their illustrious history stepped back to the penalty spot, Kane would even the game again.

Instead, Kane skied the ball over the goal, and the world could hear the collective dread of a nation.

Six minutes before Kane’s miss, France took the lead in the 78th minute on a header from its all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud. The ball deflected off the arm of England defender Harry Maguire and past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

France responded with what would have been one of the dumbest defensive plays had Kane converted the kick and England won. On a pretty harmless ball into the penalty area, France defender Theo Hernández shoved England midfielder Mason Mount in the back in the middle of the box.

Mount would not have touched the cross had Hernández not fouled him. The referee initially let the play go on but was told to review the play and called a penalty.

Kane was the obvious choice to take the penalty. He entered the game 16 of 19 from the spot for England and 39 for 46 at the club level.

Now, instead of facing underdog Morocco for a chance to go to the final, England is wondering how big of an opportunity slipped through its grasp.

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