Harry Kane won’t be able to live down missing a game-tying penalty in the waning minutes against France as England was knocked out of the World Cup.
The heavyweight bout between France and England was as advertised with the two World Cup contenders going toe-to-toe until the final second of play in the quarterfinals.
Kylian Mbappe and the French advanced with a 2-1 win that will be remembered for Harry Kane’s missed penalty in the 84th minute. It would have tied the game and likely forced extra time. Instead, the star striker blasted his kick over the bar.
England’s woes with penalty kicks continue to doom their hopes at major tournaments. Now Kane gets to join the pantheon of English heroes who fell short in the most devastating of ways.
Best tweets and memes after Harry Kane missed penalty, England eliminated
England managing to lose on penalties even in a match that isn’t going to penalties. Simply incredible commitment to the bit.
— Brian Phillips (@brianphillips) December 10, 2022
The only thing coming home is the Harry Kane penalty that he skied.
— True Geordie (@TrueGeordieTG) December 10, 2022
Gareth Southgate always loses whenever he comes up against opposition of similar quality. In fact we had better players and still lost!
A likeable loser who will get exposed in a league job.
Nothing Harry Kane won’t do to prove he isn’t a penalty merchant.
— Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) December 10, 2022
Cannot quantify how much enjoyment the combination of Harry Kane missing the match-tying pen for England to lose gives me. Immense happiness through schadenfreude on a very difficult day
— Aaron West (@oeste) December 10, 2022
I hope we as a nation don't attack hate on Harry Kane
— Shogun (@CallumTheShogun) December 10, 2022
He already plays for Tottenham. He's got it bad enough.
I want to see Harry Kane’s face plastered on every publication for missing that goal.
— Stephanie (@StephanieYeboah) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane taking that penalty...#ENG | #FRA | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/K59Yk5cj6l
— Betfair (@Betfair) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane took his "I'd like to be an NFL kicker" bit a little too seriously...
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane just wanted some England fans in the 150th row to get a game ball
— Fan Controlled Sports (@fancontrolled) December 10, 2022
Just received word that Harry Kane’s second penalty has finally landed.
— The Short Fuse (@TheShortFuse) December 10, 2022
Space Station will do a burn at the top of the hour to evade Harry Kane's penalty kick.
— Michael Baylor (@MichaelBaylor_) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane's Penalty has successfully landed on the moon. pic.twitter.com/WzD8cLYqfN
— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) December 10, 2022
Harry Kane has scored 53 goals for England but he’ll now probably be best remembered for the one he didn’t. Such is FOOTBALL ⚽️
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) December 10, 2022
There were plenty of jokes and criticisms for Kane but many on Twitter also defended him.
The trolls are going to be out for Harry Kane tonight, ignoring the goal after goal he's scored for his country. The 10 he scored to take England to this World Cup and the two goals and three assists he produced when he arrived. He'll come back stronger. He always does.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) December 10, 2022
Be proud of these players and protect them. No bullshit. Harry Kane is & will be an English footballing legend
— Josh Franceschi (@joshmeatsix) December 10, 2022
Everyone should remember all the great goals Harry Kane has scored - one miss does not detract from that. He stood up. I personally will always admire him for that 👏👏👏👏👏
— Will Carling (@willcarling) December 10, 2022
After Aurelien Tchouameni put France ahead with a strike from outside the box in the 17th minute, Kane successfully converted a penalty in the 54th minute to draw things even again. The goal drew him even with Wayne Rooney for the England scoring record.
The English needed him to be on target again late in the game because Olivier Giroud scored a header in the 78th minute to restore France’s lead. Kane’s first penalty had been perfect. His second was anything but.
England will now head home to stew over the what-ifs of another tournament without anything to show for it.
The French will move on to the semifinals on Wednesday to face Morocco, who downed Spain and then Portugal on Saturday to become the Cinderella story of the tournament.