Harry Kane couldn't be prouder of the England players

Harry Kane said he couldn’t have been prouder of the England squad after their exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Three Lions produced impressive performances in wins over Iran, Wales and Senegal on their way to Saturday’s quarter-final with France.

The togetherness and work rate of the squad was evident throughout the tournament but in the end, France were to progress after Aurélien Tchouaméni’s impressive long-range strike and Olivier Giroud’s header.

England had equalised in the second half through a Kane penalty and had the opportunity to do so once again late on but this time, the Three Lions skipper’s effort went over the bar.

Speaking to ITV in the media mix zone after the game, Kane said: “On the night we were probably the team that created the better chances. We had good spells in the game, but as you know, big games come down to fine details and margins, and they got theirs right and we didn’t.”

On the pain of exiting the competition, he continued: “A World Cup is every four years, it’s not like we have another opportunity next year. It’s a long time to wait, but as I say, I’m proud of the boys. We had a great camp, a great World Cup but it came down to a small detail - one I’ll take responsibility for.

“I’m not worried about the team and how it will affect them. I know we’ve got some great talent and a EUROs in a year and a half.

“For sure it will hurt, not just for me but for everyone involved, but that’s football, that’s sport, you have to take it on the chin sometimes and move forward.”

Kane was coming up against his Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris in goal and having already scored one penalty earlier in the match, he was asked if the initial effort had impacted his thought process for the second spot-kick.

He replied: "No. I'm always someone who prepares for getting one or two penalties in a game, I always have an idea of what I want to do.

"I can't fault my preparation or anything like that, the details, it was just the execution on the night. The first pen was great, the second one I didn't quite hit it how I wanted to.

"I have to take it on the chin, it will hurt for sure, the whole game will hurt because we had full belief in what we were trying to achieve. As the captain, I'll take that, but I couldn't be prouder of the boys.”