France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris sent a text message to England striker Harry Kane after a missed penalty kick in the World Cup quarter-finals secured France’s semi-final place.
The number 9 kicked the ball out in what could have been the equalizer for his team. They are teammates at Tottenham. Lloris shared the team’s joy when Kane failed.
But having been Kane’s teammate for nearly a decade, the 35-year-old was quick to reach out to the despondent striker at the final whistle.
“It’s a difficult time for the England team and for Harry,” Lloris told reporters on Tuesday (13), as he prepared for the semi-final against Morocco, scheduled for this Wednesday (14).
“I don’t need to go much further. We exchanged a message after the game. It was not easy to find the words. He needed some time to rest. But I think he can be proud of what he has done for the national team.”
Lloris and Kane will be back in action for Tottenham against Brentford on December 26, when the Premier League returns after its winter break for the World Cup.
Lloris believes Kane, England’s top goalscorer and closing in on Jimmy Greaves’ record for Tottenham, will ignore the mistake and strike again for club and country.
“In the history of football, many important players have missed penalties in their careers – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo – but I have no doubt that Harry will keep his head up and help Tottenham and the national team shine,” said Lloris.
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