Southgate insists Kane has nothing to apologise for after penalty nightmare

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    Gareth Southgate has told broken England captain Harry Kane he has nothing to apologise for.

    Kane has been left devastated after his shocking penalty miss saw the Three Lions lose 2-1 to France and crash out of the World Cup quarter finals.

    The Tottenham ace blasted a late chance to equalise over the bar to leave a nation stunned.

    Kane, who also blew the chance to overtake Wayne Rooney as England's all-time leading goalscorer, has become the victim of online trolls who blame him for ruining the team's dreams of winning Qatar 2022.

    READ MORE: 'Hurt' Harry Kane opens up over penalty trauma as England's World Cup dream over

    But Southgate has leapt to his skipper's defence and insisted Kane has no reason whatsoever to feel responsible. Southgate said: "There are absolutely no recriminations. We would not be in the position we are without his goals or without his leadership.

    "There were a lot of things at both ends of the pitch that determined the result – and he has been a fantastic leader. We are a united team and there will be nobody in the dressing room thinking we have not progressed because of him.

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    "That is how we have operated. That is how we will always be and he has nothing to reproach himself for. He still has a long time ahead of him and he is an important player now – and will be for the future."

    The exit means England have headed home for Christmas and the sobering prospect of having to drink in more glorious failure. Instead of plotting a World Cup semi final against African minnows Morocco – and that golden chance to win something for the first time since 1966.

    But the emergence of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka on the biggest stage, coupled with talents like Declan Rice, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount, mean Southgate will be leaving being a legacy of hope should he call time on his six years at the helm.

    He said: "When you look back on the team in 2018 you can see a difference. I think we got a tremendous amount out of what we had and we felt it was a particular way to go to do that.

    "With the emergence of some different players through the Euros and this tournament it meant we have been able to approach it differently.

    "We have said we want to be competitive all the way through with England and we are, I believe, on that top table where the last three tournaments we have restored credibility. The rest of the world look at us as a good side – but we are here to win and we haven't won."

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    • Kylian Mbappe spotted laughing after heartbroken Harry Kane misses crucial penalty

    • Gareth Southgate
    • Harry Kane
    • Kylian Mbappe
    • Wayne Rooney
    • ITV
    • World Cup
    • Christmas

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