France striker Olivier Giroud was about to be substituted just moments before scoring the match-winning goal to send England home from the 2022 World Cup.
The AC Milan frontman had seen a volley expertly pushed away by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, but didn't have to wait long for another chance, heading home Antoine Griezmann's cross to put Les Bleus in front with 12 minutes remaining. Harry Kane missed an opportunity to level things up again, firing over from the penalty spot, and Giroud's goal proved to be the winner.
It could have been so very different, though. France boss Didier Deschamps was readying substitute Marcus Thuram to take the veteran's place, but there was no time to make the change before Giroud found the net.
According to Get French Football News, just one more stoppage would have seen Giroud withdrawn for Thuram. It was a change Deschamps has already made three times in Qatar, in the group stage wins against Australia and Denmark and in the last-16 victory over Poland.
Instead, Giroud played the full 90 minutes after scoring his fourth goal of the tournament. He is now just one behind compatriot Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot chase, with Argentina star Lionel Messi level with Giroud on four.
After the game, Giroud compared the victory over England to the semi-final win against Belgium in 2018. On that occasion, Samuel Umtiti scored the only goal of the game to see Deschamps' team into the final.
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“It is extraordinary," Giroud told TF1. "We worked super well defensive once we took the lead, it reminded me of Belgium in 2018.
"Unfortunately, we concede a penalty. Towards the end of the match, we get a few chances. I knew that we were going to have another, “Grizi” gives me a fantastic ball.
"I am very proud. This evening it was a truly great match, we knew the potential of this young English generation. It was the mental side of things where we got the win.”
France will now have a few days to rest before taking on Morocco for a place in the final. The Atlas Lions had beaten Portugal 1-0 earlier on Saturday, but lost a second centre-back to injury when Romain Saiss was stretchered off.
The other semi-final sees Croatia take on Argentina, after the 2018 finalists eliminated Brazil on penalties and Lionel Scaloni's Copa America holders came through against the Netherlands in the same fashion. There is still a chance for a repeat of the last World Cup final, when Deschamps' team ran out 4-2 winners against Zlatko Dalic's Croatia, and Giroud is one of five French starters from that day who featured against England.
