Didier Drogba tips ‘true captain and leader’ Harry Kane to bounce back from late penalty miss

Didier Drogba has offered Harry Kane his support after the Tottenham striker missed a decisive penalty against France as England fell to a 2-1 defeat in the last eight of the World Cup.

The Ivory Coast legend was full of praise for the Three Lions skipper’s performances in the tournament, and insisted that the experience would only prove to be a benefit in future. 

Kane had taken to Twitter on Sunday morning in the aftermath of the gut-wrenching defeat to claim ‘responsibility’ for the missed penalty, and admitted that he felt ‘absolutely gutted’. 

Didier Drogba offered Harry Kane his support in the aftermath of his missed penalty kick

‘It will hurt, but you are a true Captain and leader,’ said Drogba on Twitter.

‘Really like the way you played during this World Cup, an example for strikers to watch: score, assist, hold and lead!! 

‘It will take time to get over it but this will make you stronger!!!’

Having scored from 12 yards earlier in the game, Kane skied his spot-kick on 81 minutes to tie the game with less than ten minutes on the clock.

Kane took to Twitter himself to take ‘responsibility’ for the error that saw England crash out

Drogba himself is no stranger to the feeling, having missed a penalty against Zambia in the final of AFCON 2012 to win the game in normal time, although Ivory Coast did go on to win the gam 8-7 on penalties, with Drogba converting in the shootout.  

Kane had buried his earlier spot-kick ebfore missing late on

The England star was aiming to bury the chance high in the net to the left-hand side, but caught the ball wrong sending it over the bar, spurning a gilt-edged chance for the Three Lions to get back in the game late on. 

France had taken the lead in the 17th minute after a glorious 25-yard strike from Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and took a 1-0 lead into the break. 

Kane’s first penalty drew England level, sending French goalkeeper – and Tottenham colleague – Hugo Lloris the wrong way to find the bottom left corner. 

However a tiny slip-up from Harry Maguire was punished French record goalscorer Olivier Giroud on 78 minutes, just three minutes prior to Kane’s missed spot-kick attempt. 

Little more than 12 hours after England crashed out of the tournament, Kane had taken to Twitter to send out a message to his followers

‘Absolutely gutted,’ wrote the England captain. ‘We’ve given it everything and it’s come down to a small detail which I take responsibility for. 

‘There’s no hiding from it, it hurts and it’ll take some time to get over it but that’s part of sport.’