ITV commentator Sam Matterface faces backlash for mocking Harry Kane by comparing missed penalty to Chris Waddle’s infamous spot kick in 1990 semi-final shootout
- Harry Kane missed a vital penalty as England were knocked out of the World Cup
- After, ITV commentator Sam Matterface angered fans with Chris Waddle quip
- Waddle missed a spot kick in a World Cup semi final penalty shooutout in 1990
ITV commentator Sam Matterface angered football fans by mocking England captain Harry Kane after he missed a crucial penalty against France last night.
The Three Lions were knocked out of the World Cup in the Quarter Finals following a 2-1 loss to the reigning champions.
France took the lead early on with a long-range goal from Aurélien Tchouaméni, before Kane equalised from the penalty spot in the second-half.
Olivier Giroud put Les Bleus in front again and in the 84th minute Mason Mount won England a second penalty.
Kane stepped up for his second penalty, which would have made him England’s all-time top scorer, but sent the ball flying over the crossbar.
After which Matterface delivered ‘one of the worst commentary lines of all time’ and said: ‘We needed Gary Lineker but we got Chris Waddle.’
Referencing the World Cup semi-final in 1990, when Lineker scored the first penalty in a shootout against Germany but Waddle missed the all-important final spot-kick.
Harry Kane missed a penalty against France last night in the World Cup Quarter Finals, after scoring one earlier in the game
ITV commentator Sam Matterface angered England fans by saying ‘We needed Gary Lineker but we got Chris Waddle’
Chris Waddle missed a penalty Against West Germany which saw England knocked out of the World Cup semi final in 1990 (pictured)
England fans took to social media to criticise Matterface’s quip, with the majority defending of Kane despite missing the target.
Twitter users questioned whether Matterface was the right man for the job, with some calling for the return of broadcast veteran Clive Tyldesley.
@FPL_ElStatto wrote on Twitter: ‘They needed Gary Lineker, they got Chris Waddle. Such a poor comment by the awful Sam Matterface. We needed Clive Tyldesley and got Sam Matterface.’
@ThenewTomMitch blasted: ‘”We needed Lineker but we got Chris Waddle” – can you imagine Brian Moore, Barry Davies, John Motson or even Clive Tyldsley coming out with such a cheap line? Actually pathetic, Sam Matterface.’
And @stusfootyflash added: ‘That’s a bad defeat to take. And I honestly believe Sam Matterface saying ‘We needed Gary Lineker, but we got Chris Waddle’ is one of the worst commentary lines of all time.’
England fans were angry the commentator chose to ridicule the striker after his missed penalty
Harry Kane became joint top England goal scorer with Wayne Rooney last night, but he would have taken the title if he converted his second penalty
Speaking to ITV, England manager Gareth Southgate said: ‘Look for me, we win and lose as a team. We conceded two goals and missed a few chances.
‘He’s been incredible for us, so reliable in those situations. We wouldn’t be here but for the number of goals he’s scored for us.’
While Jordan Henderson said: ‘I don’t know how many penalties he has scored for us.
‘[He] scored the first one, how many goal he’s contributed for us to get here so he’ll be stronger in the long run. He’s a world class striker, our captain – we wouldn’t be here without him.’
Henderson added: ‘It’s hard to now, straight after the game, it’s difficult to find the right words. I thought we gave everything in the game, [we were] disappointed to go 1-0 down but the character, mentality to keep going and find the equaliser. I can’t say anymore really, we give it everything and unfortunately it wasn’t our night.’
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