Southgate has backed Harry Kane following his costly late penalty miss in England's World Cup quarter-final loss to France.
The Three Lions were defeated 2-1 in Qatar, with Olivier Giroud scoring the winner. England had previously equalised from the spot through Kane, and they had won another penalty late in the game.Kane took it once more, but this time the England captain blazed it over the crossbar.He will undoubtedly face criticism for such a costly error, but Southgate has offered his full support to his disgruntled captain.
"It's very difficult tonight," Southgate admitted. "When you get a second penalty and it's a goalkeeper who knows you really well, there's a lot involved in that situation," he said. Croatia were eliminated from the World Cup by defending champions France, who won 2-1 in Doha.Aurelien Tchouameni broke the deadlock with a sweetly struck 25-yard effort that whistled past Jordan Pickford's despairing dive. Tchouameni's opener, however, was marred by controversy, with England claiming that a foul for a tackle on Bukayo Saka in the build-up had not been awarded.
When Saka was sent sprawling in the box seven minutes after the break, England were gifted a golden opportunity to draw level.
To keep England's hopes alive, Harry Kane stepped up and emphatically dispatched his spot-kick past Hugo Lloris.After drawing level, England had the majority of the chances and possession, but Olivier Giroud restored France's lead against the run of play in the 78th minute with a booming near-post header.
Kane had a chance to keep England's hopes alive for a second time, but he blazed a penalty wide in the final minutes, condemning his country to yet another painful quarter-final defeat.
